The Young Communist League (YCL) on Thursday called for charges to be brought against Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha and a Pretoria businessman over a missing R500 000 donation.
”There has been an acceptance from Madisha that he received the money from [businessman Charles Kasinja] Modise, so we think the police should open a case,” said YCL spokesperson Castro Ngobese.
”Madisha can’t act as a bank and go around getting money in rubbish bags without any proper transaction being done.”
They wanted fraud and money-laundering charges laid.
According to reports, Modise had accused South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande of embezzling the donation he had made to the SACP in March 2002. The money was to be used to pay rent, telephone bills and staff salaries.
YCL national chairperson David Masondo said on Monday: ”He [Nzimande] said the allegations were untrue.”
The money was apparently loaded into Madisha’s car boot and taken to Nzimande to give to SACP treasurer Phillip Dexter, who has since been suspended for criticising the party.
Madisha told the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday that he would tell the police everything about the money that he had collected. He also confirmed that he did receive the money from a businessman.
”I know him because I went to him, and I want to emphasise I collected the money. I collected it and took it to where it was supposed to be taken. When the police call us, when I go and appear before them tomorrow and when we go to court, I will be able to explain fully what actually transpired,” Madisha said.
Police spokesperson Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo confirmed that a fraud investigation had been opened at the Bedfordview police station. — Sapa