Africa-Press – South-Africa. The verdict is out on four ANC MPs, including one Cabinet minister, over their involvement with state capture players.
ANC MPs Cedric Frolick, Mosebenzi Zwane, Winnie Ngwenya and Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi have all been accused of benefitting financially from dubious dealings.
After stating their cases, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found no breaches of Parliament’s ethics code.
Four ANC MPs, including one Cabinet minister, accused of having benefitted financially from state capture players have been let off the hook by Parliament.
The national legislature’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests concluded its investigations into allegations ANC MPs Cedric Frolick, Mosebenzi Zwane, Winnie Ngwenya and Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi benefitted from corrupt dealings highlighted by the State Capture Commission.
Regarding Frolick, the incident relates to allegations made at the commission that he would play a critical role in “winning over Vincent Smith, the former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services and Justice”, and that he received a monthly benefit of R40 000.
Frolick was also accused of receiving accommodation at the City Lodge OR Tambo on 21 and 22 August 2021, costing R2 744.28, paid for by Bosasa.
Allegations were also made he intervened and persuaded late Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson to withdraw litigation against the Department of Correctional Services.
The committee noted the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests was adopted by both Houses on 29 July 2014 (National Assembly) and 31 July 2014 (National Council of Provinces) (NCOP) and came into operation on 1 November 2014.
The code does not have retrospective effect.
As the matters covered in the report predate the code, it thus cannot be applied to alleged conduct.
Meanwhile, Zwane was accused of unlawful conduct in the Gupta family’s Vrede and Estina case and should therefore be disqualified from parliamentary membership.
Also, during his stint as minister of minerals and energy affairs he was exposed to the criminal conduct of the Gupta family.
The committee accepted Zwane’s explanation and found the complaint in respect of his oversight was unfounded.
Ngwenya, a member of the NCOP, was accused of allegedly accepting money from Bosasa and doing its bidding on the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.
She denied these allegations, and after accepting her explanation the committee found she did not breach the code.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
