Senior New National Party members Peter Marais and David Malatsi will soon face their party’s wrath, after one publicly defied Marthinus van Schalkwyk and the other implicated the national leader in dubious funding.
”We will study the pronouncements of Malatsi and Marais and the party will consider what has to be done,” NNP secretary general Darryl Swanepoel said Wednesday. The issue would be dealt with urgently.
Malatsi, the Deputy Minister of Social Development, has defied Van Schalkwyk’s request to quit his national government post, pending the public protector’s probe into alleged corruption in the controversial Roodefontein golf estate development near Plettenberg Bay.
Malatsi in a letter to Van Schalkwyk, who is also Western Cape Premier, said he would not ask President Thabo Mbeki to relieve him of his duties as the allegations were unsubstantiated.
Meanwhile, Marais — a former NNP provincial leader, Western Cape premier and Cape Town mayor — has poured oil on troubled waters by claiming Van Schalkwyk was aware of a R300 000 donation by Ricardo Agusta. Marais reportedly said he had consulted Van Schalkwyk about the Agusta donation and that the NNP leader had approved its acceptance.
Pledging his administration’s commitment to clean government, Van Schalkwyk announced on Tuesday he had asked the public protector to investigate the deal after he became aware of possible irregularities.
Agusta, reportedly the owner of the property to be developed, had given the Western Cape NNP R300 000, Van Schalkwyk said.
According to media reports, Agusta is an associate of alleged mafioso Vito Palazzolo, whose son, Robert von Palace Kolbatshenko, owns the development company involved in the proposed golf estate.
The Agusta donation had been solicited by Marais, who had earlier visited the proposed site with Malatsi, Van Schalkwyk said.
Soon after the donation was received Malatsi pushed through the controversial decision to go ahead with the scheme despite opposition from his own officials and environmentalists.
Van Schalkwyk said while no one had been found guilty, a proper investigation by the public protector was necessary. The R300 000 would also be returned to Agusta.
Malatsi and Marais have also been suspended from all party activities pending the probe. DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson said he would ask the public protector to widen his investigation to include Van Schalkwyk’s alleged role following on Marais’ statements.
Malatsi is expected to attend the Cabinet lekgotla which began on Wednesday. Mbeki will meet Malatsi and then decide whether to sack him after considering all the information.
Malatsi is one of two deputy ministers appointed by Mbeki in November in line with the ANC’s co-operation deal with the NNP. – Sapa