PP forging ahead with apartheid crimes probe

Despite her public drubbing in affidavits by the Reserve Bank and Absa last week, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is forging ahead with her investigation into alleged apartheid economic crimes implicating the Reserve Bank, top banks and business people, notes Legalbrief. In an affidavit, Absa accused her of having ulterior motives when she said in her June report that R1.125bn in apartheid-era government funds should be recovered from Absa and the Reserve Bank’s mandate must be changed. The Reserve Bank, in an affidavit filed last week, accused the Public Protector of being part of a conspiracy involving the State Security Agency. Now, notes a Sunday Tribune report, Mkhwebane’s spokesperson, Cleopatra Mosana, said Mkhwebane had received a complaint from a group of ANC MPs against the Reserve Bank, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Financial Intelligence Centre, the Treasury, SAA, Eskom, the SARS, businessmen, banks and insurance companies. While Mosana did not disclose the identities of the businesspeople being investigated, the report says it’s understood the Ruperts are among them. Mosana said because of the complexity of the matter, the volume of evidence obtained and probabilities of interviewing several witnesses, the investigation could take up to two years. She disclosed that the MPs were recently invited to a meeting with Mkhwebane and had provided supporting documents. Asked if Mkhwebane was not concerned by claims that the ANC MPs’ complaint was an attempt to dilute an inquiry into state capture allegations, Mosana said Mkhwebane was concerned with such ‘unsubstantiated claims as they are undermining the independence and effectiveness of the Public Protector’. Loyiso Mpumlwana, one of the ANC MPs who lodged a complaint with Mkhwebane’s office, said support for them was ‘substantial and has been growing’ and the group now comprised about 150 MPs.

Full Sunday Tribune report (subscription needed)