Corruption case: ANC welcomes NPA move
2012-08-21 16:06
Durban - The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal welcomed the decision to withdraw charges of corruption against two of its officials, its provincial secretary said on Tuesday.
"We call on political parties to stop using the withdrawal of the charges for political gain," said Sihle Zikalala.
"We have noticed that when there is a decision against our members or leaders, political parties applaud the judiciary but the moment our members are exonerated, they say it is because of interference."
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced on Friday that the province's acting director of public prosecutions (DPP) Moipone Noko had withdrawn charges against six people, including two ANC officials accused of fraud and corruption in the Intaka case.
"Upon a thorough and interrogative assessment, available evidence including consultations with some key witnesses, the acting DPP in consultation with the prosecution team felt there are no prospects of a successful prosecution," provincial NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson said.
"Therefore these charges cannot be sustained against them during trial."
The two ANC politicians were provincial legislature speaker Peggy Nkonyeni and Economic Development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu.
The others against whom charges were dropped were Lindelihle Mkhwanazi, Nozibele Phindela, Jabulani Thusi, and Ian Blose.
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has written a letter to Noko demanding records of a decision to drop charges against the six people implicated in the corruption case.
Noko was appointed in July after KwaZulu-Natal's acting head of prosecutions Simphiwe Mlotshwa was ousted, reportedly for refusing to withdraw the charges against the two politicians.
The six were linked to the sale of water purification plants to the KwaZulu-Natal health department, allegedly at inflated prices.
Initially, 25 people were implicated in the so-called "amigos" corruption case, which will be heard on 1 October in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court Durban.
The "amigos" case is a corruption matter involving Uruguayan businessman Gaston Savoi.
Savoi's company, Intaka, allegedly paid bribes to ensure that a contract to supply water purifiers and oxygen generators to hospitals, at hugely inflated prices, went its way.
He will go on trial with former provincial treasury boss Sipho Shabalala, who allegedly received a R1m donation for the ANC.
- SAPA
