The Scorpions have refuted a Sunday newspaper report claiming the elite investigating unit was probing three government ministers and a provincial premier for fraud.
The report said the Scorpions were probing the four for fraud and corruption relating to travel vouchers.
The newspaper named Mpumalanga premier Thabang Makwetla, education minister Naledi Pandor, Home Affairs minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and deputy social development minister Jean Benjamin as being under investigation.
However, Scorpions spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said on Sunday the Scorpions were not investigating Makwetla, Benjamin, Pandor and Mapisa-Nqakula ”as implied by the Sunday Times”.
”The Scorpions have nothing to do with the article and we distance ourselves from it,” Ngwema said in a statement.
”Although it is generally our policy not to comment on investigations or the status thereof, the contents of the article published in the Sunday Times necessitate a response.
”In view of the information at the disposal of the Scorpions the facts in the newspaper article appear to be inaccurate and blown out of proportion, and could prejudicially affect the rights of innocent third parties,” Ngwema said. – Sapa