Pretoria – The Hawks have launched a probe into allegations that an ANC centenary book was funded by a R2.2m grant fraudulently obtained from the national lottery.

According to the Sunday Independent, the Basadi Empowerment Trust (BET) allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to the lottery. They were awarded the grant on behalf of the Lefatshe La Rona NGO for the production of the book after having worked through them to get the money. According to their director Themba Ximba, the national lotteries board referred the BET to them. He said they would not have qualified for a grant at the time had they not worked through his organisation.

The book, titled ANC@100: The Official Portrait was supposed to be launched at the centenary celebrations in Mangaung last year. This did not however materialise as the book has yet to be published.

Also embroiled in the saga is former ANC Rivonia branch chairperson Mutumwa Mawere who allegedly also assisted with the application. Mawere is himself the subject of a Hawks investigation after he allegedly used the ANC’s letterhead and the signature of a colleague to defraud the national lottery of more than R5m. 

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