Former ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus’s current “personal situation” was the effects of his “time spent in prison for his principled opposition to apartheid”, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Niehaus was seeking professional help, his attorney, Ian Small Smith, said in a statement.
“Carl Niehaus has today [Wednesday] sought professional assistance in the two areas vital to dealing conclusively with his personal situation and reconstructing his life.
“He is seeking psychological counselling to assist him in dealing with the long-term and deeply negative affects of his time spent in prison for his principled opposition to apartheid,” read the statement.
Niehaus served seven-and-a-half years of a 15-year jail term in the 1980s for high treason.
This is according to the A – Z of South African Politics published in 1994, which also states that “Niehaus is known for his uncompromising views, but is also respected for his honesty”.
The statement by his lawyer confirmed his resignation from “his position with the African National Congress” but added that he remained a loyal member of the party.
It added that he was “obtaining assistance in settling his debts”.
“The media is asked to respect the privacy of Carl Niehaus and his family in the coming period. He is no longer available for interviews or to take calls from the media,” said Smith.
Resignation
ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte said on Tuesday evening that the party had accepted Niehaus’s resignation.
“Carl was not an elected member of the party, he was not on the NEC [National Executive Committee] … he was employed by the party in a functionary role,” she said.
Duarte added that the notification the party received from Smith said Niehaus would like the media to respect his privacy and that of his family. It also said he would receive counselling on managing his debt.
The party had earlier indicated that it would redeploy him to another role within the organisation.
However, the party opted to place him on leave after realising he had “withheld” information about his financial dealings, spokesperson Lindiwe Zulu said.
There is quite a number of things that Carl himself did not tell the ANC when he came about to say I have a problem.
“Carl did declare some parts but he did not declare everything. He withheld information from the ANC. The ANC took him on the basis that he declared what had happened and now as the things are coming out and tumbling out the ANC itself is realising there was more to it than what he had given us,” Zulu said.
Owning up
In Friday’s M&G report Niehaus was confronted with allegations that he owed hundreds of thousands of rands to politicians and influential businessmen, and committed fraud while working for the Gauteng government. A tearful Niehaus admitted to the paper that he:
- Forged signatures while he was chief executive of the Gauteng Economic Development Agency (Geda) before resigning in December 2005;
- Borrowed money over a six-year period from some of the brightest stars of the ANC and business galaxy, much of which he has not paid back;
- Asked to be connected to Brett Kebble because he was “desperate for financial help”;
- Had to leave a top job at Deloitte & Touche in 2003 after his financial woes became embarrassing;
- Had to repay R24 000 to Director General in the Presidency Frank Chikane when he left his job there under a cloud in 2004.