South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande on Sunday said he never received an alleged R500 000 cash donation for the party, which is said to be missing.
”I wish to place it on record that I have never received the alleged R500 000 from any person, as is alleged. As the SACP has said, this is part of a concerted smear campaign primarily directed at discrediting the image and reputation of the SACP and tarnishing my image and integrity,” Nzimande said in a statement.
The donation was allegedly made by businessman Charles Modise in 2002.
Earlier this month, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha confirmed receiving the funds and was quoted as saying: ”I took it to the person to whom I was supposed to deliver it to.”
Two Sunday newspapers reported at the time that Nzimande was being investigated for theft and fraud in connection with the missing funds.
On Sunday, Nzimande said the allegation that he had received the funds was ”laughable and nonsensical”.
”How come a complaint is laid against me, by a person who never gave the money to me and who I have never met in my life?”
”How on earth, as is alleged, would I receive money from a member of the party who sits in all its senior structures, including the financial committee, not deposit it, and hope that it would not be immediately picked up?”
On Sunday, the SACP said it was anxious to meet Madisha to get a ”first hand account” of the matter.
Madisha, a former SACP executive member, had never raised the donation matter formally with the party or submitted relevant documentation to the party’s leadership.
”Since the allegations first surfaced … we have repeatedly endeavoured, through our chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, to set up a meeting with Madisha. Despite many promises to get back to us, so far nothing has transpired.”
Former party treasurers Philip Dexter and Thaba Mufamadi had no knowledge of such a donation, the party said. Mufamadi was treasurer at the time of the donation.
The party had taken the allegations ”very seriously”, it said.
”The SACP is determined to do all in its power to get to the bottom of this matter.”
A task team had been appointed under treasurer Phumulo Masualle to pursue this.
The party had been in touch with Modise’s lawyers but ”at no point” had the businessman had any formal contact with the party’s leaders about the matter.
Last week, a lawyer for Modise said the businessman did not lay a charge of theft or fraud about the money but merely laid a complaint about accountability.
However, police insisted they were investigating a charge of theft based on a complaint Modise made.
Police spokesperson Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said a theft charge was laid by Modise, but not against anyone in particular. It related to money given to the SACP. — Sapa