Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon has denied claims by German fugitive Jurgen Harksen that the DA leader knew about financial donations allegedly made to the party by Harksen.
Harksen made the claim last week in testimony before the Desai Commission sitting in Cape Town.
Addressing a gathering at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, Leon said: ”It needs to be made clear at the outset that it would not be, in and of itself, a crime for the DA to have received money from Mr Harksen, although I do not believe it would be the right thing to do”.
He added in remarks prepared for delivery: ”My point is that even if Mr Harksen’s allegation that I knew of a donation to the party were true, which of course it is not, it would really amount to nothing more than an opportunity for the ANC/NNP (African National Congress/New National Party) alliance to make some propaganda, which, given both parties’ history of raising money from dubious sources, would probably be counter-productive”.
Leon said the Desai Commission, initially established by Western Cape Premier Peter Marais to investigate alleged bugging of offices in the Western Cape government, has had its terms of reference extended by Marais, ”allowing it to interest itself in the alleged donation from Mr Harksen to the DA.
”None of these investigations have yet been concluded and no findings have been made. However I have, on a number of occasions, made it absolutely clear that the DA will take immediate and appropriate action against any member, no matter how junior or senior, who is found to have been involved in corrupt or illegal practices. That remains my absolute, public, assurance to the people of South Africa.” – Sapa