ANC condemns alleged misuse of Madiba memorial fund

This was the ruling party’s response to the arrest and court appearance of Buffalo City municipality mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and five other officials for alleged fraud involving Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in the Eastern Cape.

Ncitha, her deputy Temba Tinta, speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele and three other municipal officials were arrested by the Hawks on 23 June and faced charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

According to the ANC in the Eastern Cape, the allegations were regarding the use of money allocated for the memorial and funeral services of our late former president.

The ANC noted the serious allegations of money laundering and fraud against Ncitha, her deputy, senior officials, and the ANC regional secretary, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.

“The ANC will thus monitor the unfolding legal processes closely.”

Meanwhile, the ANC also called on its members to allow the court process to reach a conclusion.

“As the ANC, we stand by our initial position that all ANC members who might have information on this matter are urged to co-operate fully with the law enforcement agencies investigating… and our justice system to get to the bottom of this matter,” said ANC provincial spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane.

However, he added that the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by a court of law must be maintained as it also applies to the party’s implicated members.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa took to Twitter saying, “#Mandela Memorial fund scandal was broken early this [year]. Seems we had to wait for elections before these so-called arrests. Manipulation!”

The DA in the Buffalo City municipality welcomed the arrests. “We are pleased that our pleas for investigations by the Hawks and public protector have been heard, and we hope that those found guilty of looting the public purse in the name of Tata Mandela are held accountable for their actions,” DA councillor Lance Weyer said.