Phalatse claims ANC used money from Joburg entity to disrupt coalition
Updated | By Sibahle Motha
The DA in Johannesburg claims a city-owned municipal entity has fraudulently paid millions of rands to a company affiliated to the ANC.
The party believes the money was used to destabilise the multi-party coalition which governed the party until recently.
Former mayor Mpho Phalaste opened criminal charges against the ANC and Johannesburg Property Company on Wednesday.
She alleges that R27 million was paid to a suspected front company affiliated with the ANC, and that the company was established only two months before payment was made.
"It is alleged that the JPC paid R27 million to a company that had only been registered for two months at the time of receiving the payment in September this year. We are reliably informed that part of this R27 million would destabilise the coalition government of which I was the executive mayor, by funding the payment of bribes to councillors in order to entice them to vote against our government."
Earlier this month Phalaste was voted out of council in a motion of no confidence.
She was replaced by the ANC’s Dada Morero.
Phalatse said they want a thorough investigation into the matter.
"We want the matter to be investigated internally and externally. We also intend to refer this matter to the public protector as it demands the attention of all critical law enforcement and investigative agencies. We will continue to monitor this case and see it to its conclusion."
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Meanwhile the ANC has responded to the charges laid by Phalatse.
Spokesperson Chris Vondo has accused Phalatse of being angry at her removal.
He adds that the alleged transaction took place during her tenure.
"We are not going to dignify these political theatrics. She is desperate for attention and we think that she is very angry about her removal.
"What is ironic about the charges that she is laying were in the tenure that she was part of the executive. That means that they are the ones responsible for this transaction. Whatever allegations she is leveling are just for attention.”
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