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Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize.
- Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has dismissed claims that he facilitated payments to the ANC of a beneficiary of a R3.5 billion rail agency contract.
- Mkhize was responding to allegations made by former Prasa CEO Lucky Montana.
- On Monday, DA parliamentarian Natasha Mazzone said Mkhize should testify to clarify.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize responded to accusations by the former head of SA’s Passenger Railway Agency (Prasa), Lucky Montana, that he facilitated payments to the ANC, while he was general treasurer of the ANC, of a beneficiary of a R3.5 billion rail agency contract.
Montana has submitted detailed allegations to the Daily Maverick about alleged financial deals involving the ANC, Mkhize and Maria Gomes, an Angolan businesswoman who secured a 40 million rand portion of Prasa’s infamous “high rail” contract with R3. 5 billion in 2013 and 2014.
Montana claimed that he and Mkhize met regularly with Gomes at his home in Johannesburg in the period after Prasa awarded the controversial locomotive contract to Swifambo Rail Leasing.
But on Tuesday, Mkhize spokesman Lwazi Manzi said Mkhize and the ANC issued statements on the matter, denying allegations that he had appointed people to receive and funnel money on behalf of the ANC, stemming from the Prasa Swifambo tender. .
READ | Mkhize Should Appear Before Zondo Over Claims He ‘Facilitated’ Prasa Bribes For ANC, Says DA
In fact, in February 2018, Dr. Mkhize also provided a statement to the parliamentary portfolio committee of public companies, chaired by Zukiswa Rantho at the time, with a statement giving a detailed explanation and response to these allegations. false and unfounded from Montana.
“Mkhize still defends those earlier statements and therefore has no other purpose, in our opinion, that he is mocking Montana in the media rather than subjecting these allegations to a formal and independent process.
He said Mkhize acknowledged that the state capture commission had the powers to fully investigate the matters.
Mkhize must testify to clarify
“He remains fully committed to and supporting the work of the commission. He will provide any information or clarity that the commission may require of him, as a former ANC treasurer general. This is based on his belief that all citizens, including senior leaders At the societal level, they have an obligation to be held accountable and respond to any accusations made against them when requested, “Manzi said.
On Monday, the head of the prosecution, Natasha Mazzone, said that Mkhize should testify to clarify.
“That South Africa is bleeding to death is no longer a shock to anyone. However, the degree of blatant involvement of high-ranking ministers and politicians within the ANC is very disturbing. The economic crisis, rampant hunger and hopelessness, rising Unemployment and rising crime rates may be directly related to the capture of the state and the rotten core of the ANC that is increasingly exposed, “he said.
Mazzone has also asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an investigation into the allegations.
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