DA eyes 'oil-for-votes' scandal

2005-05-22 12:11

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance said on Sunday it would be filing requests under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to obtain details about the transactions and the individuals involved in the ANC's alleged "Oil-for-Votes scandal" prior to the 2004 general election.

DA leader Tony Leon said three companies would receive PAIA requests for information.

The first would be PetroSA, which was a state-owned company and had a special duty to inform the public about its dealings.

The second company would be Imvume, a black economic empowerment firm suspected of funnelling public funds to the ANC and alleged to have been involved in Saddam Hussein's violations of the UN's oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

The third company was Glencore International, Imvume's Swiss-based partner.

A report in Friday's Mail & Guardian newspaper and on SABC television, "which was strangely ignored by all other weekend newspapers", alleged that PetroSA paid Imvume a R15m advance toward payments that were to be made to Glencore for cargo.

The money was allegedly deposited in a different account than usual.

It is then alleged that instead of paying the money to Glencore, Imvume gave R11m to the ANC in December 2003, prior to the 2004 general election.

In addition, Imvume allegedly never paid Glencore the advance it was due, and PetroSA is reported to have stepped in with a direct payment to Glencore of R18m, effectively paying twice for the same shipment.

Imvume had yet to settle its debts with PetroSA, which suspended its liquidation proceedings against Imvume.

Said Leon: "The DA will also be submitting written questions to Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin to explain the government's role in the 'Oil-for-Votes' scandal."

- SAPA