CAPE TOWN June 11 1996 — Sapa

INVESTIGATE TRANSKEI BRIBE PROSECUTION DELAYS: DP

Justice Minister Dullah Omar should launch an immediate inquiry into why no-one had been prosecuted over the alleged Transkei gambling bribe, Democratic Party spokesman on Justice Douglas Gibson said on Tuesday.

The ANC's disciplinary hearing against Environment Minister Bantu Holomisa could mean that ANC politicians would not be allowed to give truthful evidence of the Truth Commission.

The ANC announced last week that Holomisa faced charges of bringing the organisation into disrepute through his evidence to the Commission that Public Enterprises Minister Stella Sigcau had taken a cut of a R2 million bribe allegedly paid by Sun International boss Sol Kerzner.

Gibson said the hearing was understandable in terms of party discipline.

However it could create a precedent that would prevent ANC politicians from giving truthful evidence to the Commission, or indeed in court, if this would embarrass the ANC.

This could not be allowed to happen.

Holomisa maintained the truth of the Sigcau affair would not come out until the bribery case had been brought to court.

It was of concern that so many years after the incident the Transkei Attorney General had failed to institute a prosecution.

Sigcau was an important minister, who would have responsibility for privatising major state assets.

She and South Africa could not have this cloud hanging over her name.


© South African Press Association, 1996
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