Cornered Mmemezi fingers ANC bigwigs

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The Gauteng ANC has remained silent on accusations by its deputy secretary Humphrey Mmemezi implicating his provincial ANC boss Paul Mashatile and Premier Nomvula Mokonyane in acts of corruption.  

The Gauteng Local Government and Housing MEC reportedly told The Citizen newspaper on Tuesday that allegations of corruption against him were trivial compared to those he said were committed by his predecessors in the local government and housing portfolios.  

Mmemezi was quoted as saying:  ''I am being painted black as the worst one, when MECs before me have not paid, they are protected.

"Even the Democratic Alliance does not check others who were MECs before me, they are only targeting me."

These portfolios were previously separated but merged when Mmemezi was controversially appointed in November 2010. He was appointed after Mashatile and his top ANC brass expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership performance of then incumbent Kgaogelo Lekgoro.

The Star could not get comment on Wednesday from Mashatile, who was at the National Social Cohesion Summit in Soweto, or from Mokonyane, who is on an official visit to China.  

Mmemezi was also not available for comment.

Gauteng DA leader in the legislature Jack Bloom invited the MEC to supply him with all information on misconduct by any of his colleagues.

"This is an extremely serious accusation that needs investigation. Mmemezi must now tell us what evidence he has about possible misconduct by Mokonyane when she headed the department until 2009, and also Paul Mashatile, the ANC Gauteng chairman, who held this post previously as well," said Bloom.  

"It appears that Mmemezi is trying to protect his job by implicating others. This may be why he has not yet been fired as he has dirt on senior ANC politicians like Mokonyane and Mashatile."

Bloom said his party would not relent in exposing all instances of corruption and misconduct, no matter who was involved.

ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli and Gauteng secretary David Makhura refused to comment, saying: "We are waiting for the report of the ANC integrity committee because the matter is still under investigation.

"We absolutely resist commenting until the integrity committee finalises its recommendations, which must be presented to the provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting.

"The PEC will appropriately discuss the report and decide on the course of action. Hence our honest appeal that the media should exercise patience and wait for the integrity committee to conclude its work."

Mmemezi is accused of using a government-issued credit card to buy a R10 000 painting at a McDonald's restaurant in Pretoria on October 12.  

He also allegedly used the same credit card to buy groceries for his family from various upmarket supermarkets.

baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za  

The Star



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