Pressure is mounting for President Cyril Ramaphosa to take action against the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni accused of having benefitted from R2,5 million tender while she was the municipal manager of the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality in Limpopo.
Despite refusing to name the person of interest, the Hawks has confirmed that it is looking into the matter.
Currently, Nsthaveni’s duties amongst others are an oversight role of state security and government communications. She also serves as the voice of the Cabinet when it communicates its decisions But Ntshavheni is not the first ANC minister to face corruption allegations.
Months ago former Justice Minister and now Human Settlement Minister Thembi Simelane also faced allegations of misconduct while mayor of the Polokwane municipality.
Now as interest grows on the issue and due to its step-aside resolution, African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula says the Minister at this stage cannot be tried through the media while investigations are still ongoing.
“Law enforcement in South Africa must not try people through the media and want to find them guilty. If you’ve got a case, you know what needs to be done. You arrest a person, and then a person gets a bail or not gets a bail, goes to court, and then that’s it. There’s no court, kangaroo court, through the media where now Khumbudzo must explain herself through the media that is guilty or not guilty and that the hawks, somebody from the hawks is communicating.”
The Democratic Alliance, the second largest party and part of the government of national unity has also called for Ntshavheni’s head.
MP Dianne Kohler Barnard says that President Cyril Ramaphosa must act against her.
“Ntshaveni was under investigation by the HAWKS from 2021 and her case now sits with the NPA and we call on the NPA not to sit on its hands. We insist the president heed the remark of Judge Muller surrounding the repugnant and devastating R2.5 million tender in Bapaloborowa while Nceveni was Municipal Manager. Mr President, South Africans deserve better than the growing list of crooks in your cabinet. Do better.”
The red berets have also added their voice. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sinawo Tambo says Ntshavheni must be removed from her position.
The EFF calls for the immediate removal of Ntshaveni as the Minister in the Presidency who presides over the state security agency closest association with the President.
Meanwhile, political analyst Sandile Swana has weighed in calling on the President to apply his mind when appointing ministers who might be having a dark cloud over their heads.
“I think that morally, once your skeletons fall out of the cupboard, as Bathabile Dlamini pointed out, morally you should resign on your own before any charges and the police come after you. You should resign. And Ramaphosa should refrain from appointing people who have known skeletons in the cupboard.”
Another political pundit Dr Levy Ndou says this matter cannot be ignored and taken lightly. “The allegations against Minister Ntshaveni cannot just be taken lightly. Any matter that is corruption-related and especially on high-ranking officials is a matter that requires urgent attention; and obviously, everybody would expect that President who appoints ministers to act on such.
“There are clear similarities between the Simelane and this one – both of them are allegations about corruption and all that we get now are matters that are in the public space and we always require concrete evidence to come out. The unfortunate situation that we found ourselves in is that the president has to act having to follow his party processes the ANC but also has executive powers to act,” Ndou explains.
The minister in the Presidency is still to comment on the matter.
