LEONARD NDZHUKULA, Nelspruit | Thursday 10.00pm.
THE African National Congress in Mpumalanga on Thursday strongly denied a Nelspruit newspaper report that accused Premier Mathews Phosa of being involved in secret business deals with Alan Gray, suspended chief executive officer of the Mpumalanga Parks Board.
It also denied reports in the Mpumalanga News that Phosa was about to be toppled as premier and forced out of his position as the party’s provincial chairperson.
Provincial ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu confirmed at a press conference that the party had a document written by Gray which implicates high ranking ANC officers, including Phosa, in secret business deals.
“We are in possession of the document making all these allegations. It was written by Gray after his suspension for involvement in the illegal R1,3-million promissory note scandal,” said Mthembu, adding that the charges against Phosa had been made by discredited elements within the party and by Gray because of the ANC’s decision to suspend them last month.
“The ANC remains convinced that the allegations regarding the involvement of Mathews Phosa in business deals are untested and unproven,” he said.
Mthembu also dismissed the newspaper’s report that the Mpumalanga Parks Board paid roughly R500
000 to build the wall surrounding Phosa’s house. He said Phosa had agreed that any irregularity surrounding the building of the wall could be investigated as part of the Commission of Inquiry that will investigate the Mpumalanga Parks Board.
He also dismissed the report that Phosa allegedly aksed Gray to draw up a proposal for a business deal that would empower previously disadvantaged business people. He further denied allegations that fund from the empowerment project would be used to fund the ANC’s campaign in next year’s general election. — African Eye News Service