Niehaus not expecting top ANC job
2012-05-03 13:06
Johannesburg - Former ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus did not claim in a radio interview that he was expecting a top job in the party, his spokesperson said on Thursday.
"He simply confirmed his continued involvement with the ANC," Tonny Sauls said in a statement.
"He stated that it is for the ANC to decide how his skills and ability can be utilised, and that it was not a matter for him to pronounce on."
Sauls said reports stating anything else were a "wilful and deliberate distortion of what he said in the interview".
In an interview with Talk Radio 702 on Wednesday, Niehaus said there would be a job for him within the African National Congress in the near future.
"Soon there will be a formal position, but let the ANC talk about that, not me," he said.
Never been charged
"It is very important to let the ANC talk about ANC positions. All I can say to you is my involvement in the ANC is increasing by the day."
Sauls also criticised the media for referring to Niehaus as a fraudster.
"Mr Niehaus has never been charged nor found guilty of fraud. Neither did he... ever confess to being a fraudster."
In 2009, claims surfaced that he had allegedly engaged in fraud and lied to maintain an expensive lifestyle that left him deeply in debt.
He allegedly lied about obtaining a doctorate, used a fraudulent letter to obtain a loan, and reportedly had default payments and judgments against his name.
At the time, the ANC said he would be "redeployed" within the party, but later said Niehaus had withheld information, and it therefore opted to place him on a leave of absence.
Niehaus resigned following this announcement.
Sauls further said reports of Niehaus borrowing money from senior ANC figures like Tokyo Sexwale, Pallo Jordan, and Cyril Ramaphosa were untrue.
"Mr Niehaus did not borrow any money from these persons, nor did he ever admit to having borrowed money from these persons as is claimed. The three people concerned will be able to confirm this simple fact," he said.
- SAPA
