By: Staff Reporter
The Democratic Alliance is calling for the resignation of the Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane after he was fingered in Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s report.
In the report, Mkhwebane found that Mabuyane was on the receiving end of money siphoned off from the Mbizana Municipality. DA Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson Andrew Whitfield said it was galling that Mabuyane and his executive can preach about tackling corruption, good governance and consequence management when he has had his hand in the cookie jar.
“The Premier is quick to talk about dehumanising residents and undermining their constitutional rights. How many poor people from Mbizana are suffering while the Premier relaxes in his luxurious multi-million-rand home, paid for with money stolen from the public purse that was meant to improve their lives?” Whitfield asked.
The report, released by Mkhwebane, found that Mabuyane had benefitted from over R1.1 million that was siphoned off from the Mbizana Municipality, in that he received payments for upgrades to his Bunkers Hill home, valued at R450,000.
“The report also found there was an irresistible inference that MEC Madikizela knew that the R1.1million was derived from unlawful activity and that there is a reasonable apprehension or probability that Mabuyane also knew or reasonably ought to have known the same,” Whitfield said.
The DA further asked how they can trust Mabuyane to fight the cancer of corruption in the province when the Public Protector herself has found he is corrupt?
“The DA welcomes the referral of the matter to the Head of the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (Hawks) and call for swift action to be taken. We also await the report to be tabled in the Eastern Cape Legislature and closely monitor the situation,” he said.
