BLF lays charges against Oppenheimers amid Parliamentary chaos
The Black First Land First (BLF) movement has laid charges of fraud, bribery and corruption against billionaire businessman Nicky Oppenheimer and his son Johanthan.
On Tuesday, BLF supporters were forcibly removed by Parliamentary security.
BLF members confronted the Oppenheimers, who were giving a submission to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the Fireblade Aviation Company and the operation of a private terminal at OR Tambo International Airport.
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BLF supporters chanted 'Shut down Fireblade!' before they were removed.
Nicky Oppenheimer told the committee at a meeting with Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba in Pretoria it was confirmed that their application for a private terminal had been granted.
“Following the meeting, I wrote a letter to the minister thanking him for granting us this permission and talking about the suggestion to approach President Jacob Zuma to formally open the facility. He was also keen for a VIP-type of clearance for people and the minister was keen that there should be a trial for Fireblade for that process.”
But BLF spokesperson Lindsay Maasdorp says the private terminal was granted illegally.
“We made a political point that these people should not continue to illegally own an international airport, just because there were in corrupt activities with the ANC. We went to SAPS in Cape Town and we opened a charge of corruption relating to the opening of Fireblade and how it came about. We will hope that the Hawks and the NPA will do what’s necessary to hold this rogue family to account.”