"We cannot afford to delay these interventions. People are already struggling to survive, and it will only get worse unless we immediately bring the petrol price below R15 per litre" Mmusi Maimane said. (Reuters)
The Democratic Alliance’s legal team has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately call for an independent audit on all ANC government contracts with Bosasa, the party’s leader Mmusi Maimane said on Sunday.
The DA’s call comes after an explosive testimony by former Bosasa COO, Angelo Agrizzi at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.
Maimane said Agrizzi’s testimony shattered the myth that corruption in the ANC was simply a feature of former president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family.
“A system of corruption that builds a wall between insiders and outsiders – the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is in the very DNA of the ANC. It should come as no surprise that the awarding of ANC government contracts to Bosasa is tainted with allegations of bribery, corruption and fraud. Many of these contracts remain active,” he said.
Agrizzi testified last week that Bosasa spent between R4-million to R6-million on bribes per month. Agrizzi said the company also laundered money to pay for the ANC’s electioneering in North West.
Maimane said, in this light, the DA’s legal team has written to Ramaphosa, “to immediately: Instruct Cabinet to audit individual government departments’ contracts and deals with the state;
Instruct functionaries to investigate the contracts’ legitimacy and terminate the contracts and/or approach the court to set aside these agreements where necessary;
Direct the SAPS/Hawks to investigate the allegations with the requisite professionalism; and
Ensure that internal disciplinary action against all implicated ANC members is instituted with immediate effect,” he said.
He said they have requested that Ramaphosa respond with these undertakings by no later than January 29 “as this matter is urgent”.
“Criminal charges should be brought against CEO Gavin Watson with haste,” he said.
Maimane said Agrizzi’s testimony that Bosasa dispensed dirty money to the ANC for electioneering in the North West and Western Cape and that R3m was shared between Lindi Gouws and the president’s son, Andile Ramaphosa, who banked R500 000 indicated that Ramaphosa may have lied to Parliament.
“The public protector is currently investigating this following my complaint lodged last year,” he said.
On November 6, Ramaphosa told Parliament that he had questioned his son about his involvement with Bosasa, and was satisfied that it was an above board transaction.
“The president cannot continue to sit on his hands, being selective on investigating corruption. Swift action is required. If the president will not act, the electorate has the opportunity to punish the ANC government at the polls in the coming months,” said Maimane.
He said a DA government would bring change that “builds one South Africa for all”.
“Bosasagate offenders will be first in line [to] find themselves behind bars for 15 years in prisons that Bosasa and ANC government facilities management still hold the keys to,” he said. — News24