Kebble probe takes on new proportions

The investigation, notes Beeld, has become one of the biggest in SA history, involving billions of rands and many South African VIPs. Last week, the Scorpions carried out raids on 29 properties countrywide in connection with the probe. The preliminary list of suspects contains 29 individuals and companies. The Scorpion investigators seized a huge number of documents, correspondence, financial records, notes, diaries and e-mails that could be linked to possible criminal activities. One of the payments they\'ll be looking for specifically is payments to political parties. Virtually every major bank is involved, as are several prominent legal firms. The Scorpions also had to search for correspondence between the suspects and, among others, former Transnet head Mafika Mkwanazi, former Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob, former Judge Willem Heath and President Thabo Mbeki\'s former economic adviser, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu. Full Beeld report on News24 site

A total of 29 individuals and companies are preliminary suspects in the case. A Finance24 report says at the top of the suspect list is Roger Kebble, Brett Kebble\'s father. Last week, the Scorpions raided three of his properties, two in Cape Town and one in Johannesburg. Most of the other suspects have links with one or more of the Kebble companies. They include Hennie Buitendag, the former financial director of Randgold & Exploration (R&E), Patricia Beale, the former company secretary of JCI, Benita Morton, a lawyer and JCI\'s legal adviser and Clinton Nassif, Brett Kebble\'s security contractor and owner of the CNSG-security company, which was also raided. Other current and former company directors whose properties were raided are Sello Rasethaba (Matodzi Resources), Brenda Madumise (R&E), Charles Cornwall (JCI), Quinton George (Trinity Holdings) and Mafika Mkwanazi (Matodzi and Western Areas). Three Kebble associates who have links with the ANC Youth League are also among the Scorpions\' suspects. They are Lunga Ncwana, Songezo Mjongile and Andile Nkhulu. Full Finance24 report

The spotlight has also swung on to the millions of rands allegedly paid to political parties and in business deals involving key figures linked to the ANC Youth League. The Sunday Independent notes two forensic audits into the affairs of Kebble\'s companies, Johannesburg Consolidated Investments and Randgold & Exploration, are believed to indicate that more than R25m was paid to the ANC and its affiliates by Kebble and companies linked to him. Other political parties received lesser amounts. The auditors\' investigation into the pillaging of shares and into black economic empowerment (BEE) fraud uncovered ‘consultants\' fees’, loans and bonuses listed as paid by Kebble and his companies to a number of prominent individuals in the ANC and in BEE circles. The auditors\' reports were not made public, partly to protect the Scorpions\' investigations. The reports also list what appear to be payments made to the ANC totalling more than R25m, including R5 570 000 to the ANC in the Western Cape, R930 000 to the ANC Youth League and R250 000 to the ANC in the Eastern Cape. Full Sunday Independent report