Maimane wants investigations into Nkandla mansion revisited

ANC ministers and officials who covered up for former president Jacob Zuma should be held accountable for lying to parliament says Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane.  

Maimane, who was a parliamentarian at the time Zuma was investigated for corruption related to the R250 million renovations at Zuma’s Nkandla home, said ANC officials had clearly lied to parliament to protect one of their own.

ANC admitted a cover-up

During a public meeting earlier this week, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said some officials had lost their jobs covering up the Nkandla scandal. He admitted that the controversial “fire pool” at Zuma’s home was actually a swimming pool.

ALSO READ: Mbalula’s admission ANC lied about Zuma’s Nkandla fire pool ‘an insult to constitution’

“I remember that report. The charge now is that the ANC members who were on that committee violated the Powers and Privileges Act, which means you cannot lie in parliament. We cannot have a situation where politicians lie in parliament,” he said.

The Public Protector should investigate.

Maimane said the current Public Protector should look at the Nkandla matter based on comments made by Mbalula.

“The criminal case on Nkandla is still open. I opened the case on acts of corruption. I will be following up with the investigating officer on that case,” he said.

Speaking on eNCA recently, Mbalula defended his comments and said he had only presented facts and court findings.

A statement shared by him also excused his remarks as merely “political rally rhetoric and polemics”.

It also took a swipe at those who claimed Mbalula had admitted the ANC had helped Zuma to defraud the government, telling them to “have his/her head checked”.

ALSO READ: ANC defended Zuma for Nkandla, but he can’t stand Ramaphosa

Maimane accused the ANC of continuing the culture of lies, even in the current presidency of President Cyril Ramaphosa who also faced a scandal involving illicit money flows at his Phala Phala farm.

The ANC in parliament used its majority in parliament to ensure that Ramaphosa was not held accountable to parliament.

“That Phala Phala matter should be properly investigated because it cannot be that they just say we voted on it and there was nothing we dispute in the report,” he said.

Bid to become president

Meanwhile, Maimane has kicked off his campaign to become South Africa’s next president. He said as part of his manifesto, Build One SA would be focusing on ensuring that there is at least one employed person in every home.

He said he believed that the dignity of employing South African citizens was a step toward addressing the economic and historical social problems of South Africa.

“I think it is possible to ensure that there is a job in every home in the next five years. We have to support even the entrepreneur in the township because that is work,” he said.