Mthethwa's request for probe welcomed
2012-04-16 21:28
Johannesburg - Cosatu has welcomed Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's decision to refer allegations that he misused police intelligence funds to the auditor general (AG).
"Corruption and theft of public funds is a malignant cancer rotting away our social and political cohesion," Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement on Monday.
"That makes it... crucial to weed out the corrupt, rotten minority, who have such a deadly effect on our society, bring them before the courts and put them behind bars."
Craven said the trade union federation hoped Mthethwa would refer all the evidence to the AG, and that it would be fully investigated.
Mthethwa's spokesperson Zweli Mnisi confirmed he had officially asked the AG to investigate the allegations.
According to reports earlier this month, the Hawks were investigating claims that Mthethwa used nearly R200 000 from a crime intelligence fund to renovate his home in KwaZulu-Natal.
There were also claims that Mthethwa was trying to quash the investigation into himself and two other high-ranking police officers accused of colluding with him.
The claims were reportedly made in a "top secret" police report given to acting police chief General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last month.
Crime intelligence boss Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli and finance head Major General Solly Lazarus were both named in the report. Mthethwa denied all the claims.
On Sunday, the City Press reported a detailed account of how the money was used to upgrade Mthethwa's private residence. He had rubbished the earlier reports.
In total nearly R200 000 of taxpayers' money was spent upgrading security at his private home, according to the report.
The newspaper wrote that it had a number of documents in its possession.
These included secret service account claim forms requesting money for security upgrades on Mthethwa's official residence, and copies of invoices from suppliers in KwaMbonambi, the location of his private home.
"[Mthethwa] would like to allow the process to be carried and concluded. He does not wish to comment further pending the investigation," Mnisi was quoted as telling the newspaper on Sunday.
- SAPA
