JOHANNESBURG Aug 3 1996 — Sapa

DP TO ASK PUBLIC PROTECTOR TO LOOK INTO HOLOMISA ALLEGATIONS

The Democratic Party would appeal to Public Protector Selby Baqwa to immediately investigate allegations of corruption in the ANC made by axed deputy minister Bantu Holomisa, DP justice spokesman Douglas Gibson said on Saturday.

Holomisa claims hotel magnate Sol Kerzner funded the ANC's 1994 election campaign and that top leaders in the organisation had accepted favours from Kerzner in return for protecting him against bribery charges.

The charges arise from the R2 million paid by Kerzner in the mid-1980s to former Transkei prime minister George Matanzima for exclusive gambling rights in the homeland.

Gibson said he would also motivate the parliamentary portfolio committee on justice to ask Eastern Cape Attorney-General Christo Nel to explain why Kerzner had not yet been prosecuted. Gibson said he would make this request when Parliament resumed on August 12.

He said the allegations made by Holomisa would also be raised in the National Assembly debate on the new parliamentary code of conduct, starting on August 14.

The row surrounding Holomisa - who has been dismissed from his post as Deputy Environtmental Affairs and Tourism Minister - surfaced after he made allegations before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that Public Enterprises Minister Stella Sigcau received a R50,000 slice of the R2 million given to Matanzima.

Holomisa, former head of Transkei's ruling military committee during its final years of independence, made further allegations concerning Kerzner and leading figures within the African National Congress after his axing and is to face an ANC disciplinary inquiry over his conduct.

The ANC said on Friday it was also considering legal action against him.

In his statement, Gibson said years of inaction had passed since the allegations concerning Kerzner surfaced at a commission of inquiry.

He said he wished to know if Nel still intended to prosecute the former Sun International boss, and if not, why not.

Gibson said President Mandela should participate in the August 14 debate on parliamtary conduct and take steps there to allay fears that the ANC government was corrupt, a perception which could harm investor confidence in South Africa.

The Holomisa allegations, if true, would seriously undermine public confidence in the rule of law.


© South African Press Association, 1996
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