National

Protector: Yes, Roux Shabangu, I'm looking at you

Staff Reporter 07 Dec 2011 08:38

The public protector is investigating the relationship between businessman Roux Shabangu and Sam Vukela, the suspended acting director-general at the department of public works.

“We are investigating your relationship with Mr Vukela,” Thuli Madonsela told Shabangu during a debate on SAfm on Wednesday morning.

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This was after “information has come to us from other sources” that the relationship “may or may not be improper”, Madonsela said.

Asked for comment, Shabangu said: “You know, I’m not even gonna go into that.”

Madonsela and Shabangu were being interviewed after he sent the public protector a letter in which he claimed that 194 lease agreements with the public works department were concluded without a tender process.

In October, Madonsela found that the procurement of two leases for new police headquarters in Pretoria and Durban, involving Shabangu, were unlawful and that they amounted to maladministration. The leases were worth R1.6-billion.

Following the report, President Jacob Zuma suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele and dismissed public works minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.

Vukela is currently on special leave pending an internal investigation into allegations of tender irregularities.—Sapa