Fraud and theft claims against South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande were an attempt to discredit the organisation, it said on Sunday.
”The SACP has for some time now been aware of a campaign to discredit and tarnish the image of the SACP as well as that of our general secretary…,” the SACP said in a statement.
The campaign was being conducted by ”elements, including agent provocateurs” who were ”hell-bent” on destroying the party because they were opposed to the direction it was taking.
”This campaign is being waged together with some disgruntled elements inside our party.”
The Sunday Times reported that businessman Charles Kasinja Modise had accused Nzimande of embezzling a R500 000 donation he made to the SACP in March 2002 to cover its office rent, telephone bills and staff salaries.
The money was apparently loaded into the boot of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha and taken to Nzimande to give to SACP treasurer, Phillip Dexter, since suspended for criticising the party.
The SACP said it had been aware since its 12th congress in July that the media had possession of an affidavit in which the allegations were made and which was to have been published ”with the sole intention of derailing and defocusing our congress”.
On Sunday, the SACP ”strongly” rejected the allegations.
”The SACP wishes to state categorically that comrade Blade Nzimande has never asked for any monies or donations from this Charles Modise, nor has he ever received any monies from this person or such amounts from Willie Madisha at any stage.
”The general secretary has also never had a meeting with this Modise, nor did comrade Nzimande ask Willie Madisha to raise money from this person for the SACP’s 11th National Congress in 2002,” it said.
The SACP said its 2002 to 2005 financial statements were audited and adopted by the 12th congress, and ”there was no such matter raised in any of these statements”.
It said the allegations against Nzimande had also not been raised in any of the SACP structures to date.
”The SACP therefore demands from Modise and/or Willie Madisha to produce the necessary evidence to this effect.”
Meanwhile, Gauteng police have confirmed that they are investigating fraud charges against Nzimande.
”A case was opened in the Bedfordview police station in the past week. I cannot say anything other than that,” Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said on Sunday. – Sapa