‘These are all lies’ – Nzimande mulls legal action amid graft allegations
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says his lawyers are studying the report that links him to alleged multi-million-rand kickbacks at student aid fund Nsfas.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tshwane on Monday, Nzimande pushed back against the corruption allegations in a report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) that contains a leaked audio recording of an alleged meeting between him, National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) board chairperson Ernest Khosa and a service provider.
Outa has accused the minister and Khosa of receiving kickbacks from companies doing business with the Nsfas.
Nzimande has, in turn, accused the organisation of colluding with companies whose contracts were terminated following an investigation into alleged tender irregularities involving sacked CEO Andile Nongogo.
“These are all lies that emanate from a malicious fightback campaign. My conscience is clear, and I have nothing to hide or fear.”
It’s alleged that at least R1 million was paid to fund activities in the South African Communist Party, which Nzimande chairs.
“I have never used any money from any of my department’s entities for the purposes of funding the SACP, as maliciously and falsely suggested in the Outa, nor have I ever received any kickbacks from any of the service providers for Nsfas or any other entity falling under my department,” rebutted the minister.
Like Nzimande, the party has vehemently denied the claims.
READ: DA to lay criminal charges against Nzimande amid NSFAS graft claims
Meanwhile, political parties have joined Outa in calling for Nzimande and Khosa to resign.
They also want the relevant authorities to probe the matter, as OUTA’s Rudie Heyneke explained: “The Special Investigating Unit has got a proclamation to investigate Nsfas, and we shared these recordings with them last year in December. They are aware of it, and I am very sure they will be instituting their investigation.
“We will also lay criminal charges, and we will also report this to the South African Revenue Services for them to look at the tax affairs of the contractors, and then we will also ask the auditor-general to look at the contracts and audit them with a very sharp eye.”
Nzimande said he will subject himself to the relevant legal and ethical processes as the Democratic Alliance threatens to take legal steps against him.
But he vowed not to take the allegations lying down.
“I couldn’t just sit back and not go to my lawyers when are being turned into sitting ducks, just because we are ministers, for every Tom, Dick, and Harry to insult us as they wish.”
KHOSA DEATH THREATS
Nzimande alleged that the Nsfas board chairperson had been on the receiving end of death threats since the publication of the report.
“This campaign now unfortunately now includes threats to the life, person, and security of the Nsfas chairperson who has been getting death threats.”
Outa’s Heyneke said he was not aware of any threats on Khosa’s life. However, he added, if there were any his organisation strongly condemns such conduct.
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