Mabuyane seeks court order to stop investigation against him

In his accompanying affidavit filed last month, Mabuyane said the allegations were unspecified and claim its part of a political witch-hunt being led by elements of the Hawks in the Free State.

He said a confidential source had told him that the probe is orchestrated by certain elements in the ANC, and refers to a campaign being waged against him by suspended secretary-general Ace Magashuale.

Mabuyane says he had been vocal regarding the ANC’s step-aside policy when Magashule was charged with corruption.

He is asking the court to instruct the Hawks to provide him with the information he requires to be able to answer the allegations against him.

Mabuyane's notice of motion and affidavit filed on the 14th of last month comes on the heels of the public protector directing the Hawks to conduct the probe against him.

This is related to allegations that the Premier received R450,000 to renovate his house from R1m allocated to the memorial service of the late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

The public protector conducted a probe after receiving a complaint from a resident of Buffalo City as much as R3 million had been misappropriated by officials in the provincial government and the Mbizana local municipality.

She also found that the current MEC for public works in the Eastern Cape Babalo Madikizela improperly benefitted from the funds as well, as he got at least R350 000.

She further found that the ANC in the Eastern Cape benefitted with R280 000 of the money going into the party's funding account.

The premier's spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga says Mabuyane maintains his public statement issued on the matter in 2019 and maintains his position that he was never involved in any acts of fraud or corruption.