AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
DAVID Mabuza, South Africa’s Deputy President, has denied any involvement in crime.
Mabuza was forced to issue the denial after 11 people, including a member of parliament, Bongani Bongo, were arrested and appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption.
Bongo and 10 others appeared in court in connection with crimes committed at the time when Mabuza was the Premier of Mpumalanga province.
In a statement, Mabuza’s office said while the alleged crimes took place during his tenure as Premier, he categorically denied any involvement and condemned any attempt to drag his name in any form or capacity into the criminal conduct under investigation.
Mabuza’s office said he was not aware of any investigation on him as alluded to in the media, but would cooperate with law enforcement agencies should there be questions that need his response as a person who was responsible for the province at the time, as the Premier of Mpumalanga. The Deputy President however, welcomed the progress made on the Special Investigating Unit’s probe into the Mpumalanga human settlements land procurement issue.
“We welcome progress that law enforcement agencies continue to make in the fight against corruption,” said Deputy President David Mabuza.
The Deputy President appealed to the public to allow the law to take its course without hindrance, and should extend its support to law enforcement agencies in carrying out their work by providing them with any evidential information that they might be aware of in order to expedite the investigation process.
Mabuza’s office reiterated that the fight against corruption remained central to the government’s work in rebuilding an economy devastated by COVID-19.
