Murder accused MEC China Dodovu today drove from North West to Johannesburg to host a media conference to clear his name.
Dodovu said he was the subject of “malicious rumours and serious threats that ultimately culminated in my incarceration for more than a week”.
He read a prepared statement and answered questions from journalists.
Dodovu was accompanied by co-accused Papiki Babuile, chairperson of the ANC Youth League in the North West.
Dodovu was released on bail yesterday at the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court, along with five of his co-accused.
He has been charged with the murder of David Chika, ANC regional secretary, who was shot in his driveway in Klerksdorp shortly before the start of the ANC’s Mangaung conference in December last year.
Dodovu has also been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.
Dodovu and Babuile both vehemently denied the charges.
“The police who arrested me and subsequently the state in court claimed that I attended a meeting to plot the murder of Obuti Chika at the River Lodge in Klerksdorp on the 13 December 2012 at an undisclosed time,” Dodovu said.
He claims that he had attended various meetings on the day with councillors and later attended a traditional leaders function until the early hours of the next morning.
“All of these events were widely covered by the media,” he said.
The two accused also addressed the rumours of their suspension from the ANC.
In his statement, Dodovu said there was a conspiracy to have him dismissed from the North West Provincial Executive Council.
But Babuile said: “We have not received any formal letters from the ANC informing us of our suspensions.”
Kenny Morolong, ANC North West spokesperson, said there was a meeting yesterday to discuss among other issues, “the alleged involvement of ANC members in the murder of Chika. At the appropriate time the PEC will make a statement. At this point I will not confirm or deny that he (Dodovu) has been suspended.”
Dodovu said he was the subject of a conspiracy, which is part of the post-Mangaung purge in the ANC.
“This post-Mangaung fallout is very terrible, we see purging every day in North West. This has been happening for the past six weeks since Mangaung,” added Dodovu whose position as North West MEC of Local Government and Traditional Affairs is currently occupied by Paul Sebegoe.
Lesiba Gwele, spokesperson for North West Premier Thandi Modise, said Sebegoe would be acting in the position indefinitely.
“The premier decided on this to afford him (Dodovu) time to deal with this matter.”
Dodovu said he would reveal all the parties that were conspiring with the police against him.
“The police know who committed this heinous crime and should do their job and arrest the people they know are involved. We are willing to assist in any way,” added Dodovu.
