Oilgate: PetroSA managers to appear in Parliament

PetroSA managers are expected to appear before the parliamentary committee on public accounts to explain the auditor general’s findings on the Oilgate scandal, the Freedom Front Plus said on Tuesday.

“They will be appearing before the committee tomorrow [Wednesday] morning, during which time the auditor general’s findings will be made public in Parliament,” said FF+ spokesperson Willie Spies.

He said his party was briefed on the findings in a closed meeting last week and that there are a few “interesting issues” that will be raised on Wednesday.

The African National Congress was reported by the Mail & Guardian to have been paid R11-million by the empowerment company Imvume Management before last year’s elections.

The money was said to have been paid from an advanced payment of R15-million Imvume had received from PetroSA to procure oil from supplier Glencore—which Imvume never supplied.

The FF+ and the Democratic Alliance have spearheaded calls for investigations into events surrounding the dealings after they came to light in the M&G.

“At the heart of the Oilgate scandal lies the undisputed fact that R11-million of taxpayers’ money was channelled into the ANC’s 2004 election coffers from the state company PetroSA, via Imvume Management.

“R11-million cannot simply vanish without somebody being called to account,” DA MP Helen Zille said.

Calls for investigations continued despite a report by Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana that found nothing irregular could be determined concerning the transfer of funds.

“And yet none of the parties involved have adequately explained what amounts to a gross abuse of state resources, for the ANC’s political gain,” Zille said.

Spies said on Tuesday that Imvume Management has once again threatened to lay charges of contempt of court against the FF+.

“But this is the third such threat. And, like the others, we feel nothing will come of it.”—Sapa