Staff reporters
The National Party has refused to confirm or deny that it received a multi-million rand donation from business tycoon Sol Kerzner.
The Mail & Guardian understands Kerzner gave the NP about R2-million before the 1994 elections. Sun International had not responded to questions put to it before going to press.
“The NP regards the relationship between a donation and a party as an honorary arrangement and therefore we do not comment on matters of this nature. If, however, a donor wants to publicise such donations it is the donor’s privilege,” said a spokesman.
The NP is in a defensive position on Sol Kerzner, with the parliamentary justice committee calling for former state president FW de Klerk to explain why Sol Kerzner had not been extradited to face questions about bribery in the former Transkei.
The NP claimed there was no prima facie case for extradition.
Justice Committee Chair Johnny De Lange said this week he was waiting for Justice Minister Dullah Omar to read the documents which dealt with the decision that there was no prima facie case for extradition.
“The minister must provide us with all the information and then we will decide if it is necessary to call previous cabinet ministers [before the committee],” said De Lange.
President Nelson Mandela admitted recently Kerzner had donated R2-million to the African National Congress before the 1994 election.
Kerzner however had long-atstanding links with the National Party when he began developing casinos in the former Bantustans when gambling was illegal in South Africa.