A KwaZulu-Natal provincial minister, Narend Singh, has been granted 10 days’ leave after reports of a sex DVD — in which he was shown — appeared in weekend newspapers.
Singh’s spokesperson Keshika Singh said on Monday he had requested a leave of absence from KwaZulu-Natal Premier S’bu Ndebele.
”In the interests of good provincial governance, MEC Narend Singh has requested of Premier Ndebele that he be granted a leave of absence from his duties as MEC for arts, culture and tourism whilst this matter is investigated fully,” Keshika Singh said in a media statement. ”The premier has acceded to this request.”
Ndebele’s spokesperson Thabang Chiloane said he believes that Singh had requested more than 10 days’ leave, but that was all the premier granted.
He said the police are investigating the matter at Singh’s request. The outcome of the investigation may determine Singh’s political future.
”The next 10 days will be crucial,” Chiloane said. ”The police investigation will give the premier more information to decide if this whole thing was politically related.
”So, what happens in the next 10 days will have an influence on the MEC’s future political life.”
Ndebele will take care of Singh’s duties during the 10 days, Chiloane said.
Singh said in his statement that the recording and circulation of the DVD was done in such a manner that it suggested ”extremely serious criminal conduct”.
He first received the images in December, accompanied by threats that unless he withdrew from politics before a certain date, the DVD would be distributed to the media and the public.
”In dedication to the discharge of his public duties, MEC Narend Singh refused to succumb to such blackmail.”
He repeated that the content of the DVD was a private matter that ”ought not to have received the widespread publicity it did”.
The steamy footage of Singh with a married Durban socialite was widely distributed in the province. It showed Singh and Rosanne Narandas in a lengthy sex session at Durban’s Elangeni hotel. Both Singh and Narandas are married.
The recording was pushed through residents’ personal post boxes, handed out at some taxi ranks and even exchanged among pupils at some high schools.
The Sunday Times said the movie opened with the two ”kissing, fondling and drinking liquor mixed with Coke”.
Narandas apparently fondled Singh, kissed him and repeatedly rubbed her pelvis against him before they had intercourse.
It appeared Narandas was conscious of the cameras, first preening herself and later turning towards Singh so his face was captured. She denied she had a spy camera in her handbag, telling the Sunday Times she was being framed.
Singh is a leading member of the Inkatha Freedom Party. — Sapa