Daily Archives: February 26, 2019

Pule Mabe calls ‘media leaks’ about his position ‘interesting’

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The ANC’s spokesperson claims the media appears to have learnt of his ongoing suspension before he did.

After ANC insiders revealed on Tuesday that the party resolved on Monday evening at a national working committee meeting to remove both of its spokespersons in the wake of rape and sexual harassment allegations against them, Pule Mabe said he first learnt about it through the media.

It is now understood that Dakota Legoete will continue as the acting spokesperson for now until the cloud of accusations surrounding Mabe and Zizi Kodwa clears.

Last week Mabe was meant to have been reinstated as the party’s spokesman after an internal inquiry found him not guilty of sexual harassment. His personal assistant, Kgoerano Kekana, however, subsequently expressed deep dissatisfaction at both the way the inquiry had been conducted and its findings.

The ANC is understood to now have decided not to reinstate him in his job after Kekana apparently opened a criminal case against him.

Mabe released a statement on Tuesday that stated “for the record, at the time of issuing this public statement, such a matter had not been brought to my attention”.

He said he had subjected himself to all the party’s internal processes and had maintained his innocence throughout, which he continued to do.

“The ANC subsequently issued a statement clearing me of any acts of sexual harassment.

“Soon afterwards, the complainant embarked on a door-to-door to various media houses to publicly state her displeasure about a process initiated at her own request. It is understandable for a matter such as this to attract media attention because sexual harassment is a serious matter and leaders are expected to be exemplary at all material times.

“As an advocate of press freedom myself, I will never take issue with journalists for doing their work, especially in our country where some amongst us are ‘newsroom agents’ and probably conduct teleconferences with news desks before diary meetings – a hard reality.”

He said he had restrained himself from making any public statements, but now had to speak to protect himself and his family from further humiliation.

“I have never sexually harassed anyone and will subject myself even to the highest court in the land to prove my innocence.

“I will not allow my name to be used to pursue nefarious agendas whose sole motive is character assassination. Even during the hearing, I have been available to answer every question that might have arisen.

“For the sake of our society and given the magnitude and seriousness of allegations of sexual harassment, I will be writing to the [ANC] to request that they make the transcripts of the grievance panel proceedings in the form of oral and written evidence available for public consumption.

“I have avoided to fall for conspiracy theories when the rumour mill suggested that some of our members in our [national executive committee] will reject the outcomes of the hearing. It did bother me because the truth will never change.

“If the latest media leaks are anything to go by, then the latest developments are interesting.

“I have always had faith in my organisational leadership structures to always act rationally, objectively and fairly.”

He said he’d asked the ANC to extend his leave so he could recover from the “strain” of the whole episode.

Mabe also thanked his church in Soweto for the support and counselling he’d been given.

Source: http://www.citizen.co.za 

ANC tells Zizi Kodwa and Pule Mabe to ‘step aside’ amid sex allegations

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The ANC’s national working committee (NWC) has decided its spokesperson Pule Mabe and acting spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, who has been in that role since last month, should “step aside”.

The two have faced allegations of sexual violence, with Mabe being accused of sexual harassment by his former personal assistant Kgoerano Kekana, while claims of rape have been made against Kodwa, who is also head of the ANC’s presidency office.

The NWC met on Monday following a meeting by the party’s top 6 officials.

Although the ANC has cleared Pule, remember that his matter is not closed. His former PA went to the police,” said a member of the NWC, who asked not to be named.

Mabe’s PA, who has expressed some dissatisfaction with how the ANC handled her sexual harassment complaint, has already indicated she would be taking more steps, including approaching the CCMA.

“Zizi just simply can’t continue in this role, given these claims, how would he be able to assist? You must also remember he is not a spokesperson. He was acting, only Dakota (Legoete) will continue there” said the ANC insider.

Over the weekend, the ANC’s deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte confirmed the party received a letter laying a complaint of rape against Kodwa. She said the party had advised the complainant to take her issue to law enforcement agencies.

Kodwa has vehemently denied the claims, labelling them as factional. He also said he would be consulting with his lawyers on a way forward.

News24 attempted to get hold of Kodwa but his phone was switched off, while calls to Mabe went unanswered.

Source: http://www.news24.com

 

R300m security tender scandal rocks Rustenburg municipality

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Opposition disapprove of Rustenburg ANC municipality’s deviation from tender specifications for security services

The EFF has called on the Hawks to investigate an almost R300 million Rustenburg local municipality security tender that has turned into a fierce legal battle between security companies.

EFF North West spokesperson Jerry Matebesi told City Press last week that the executive mayor, Mpho Khunou, and other managers at the municipality must be investigated for alleged corruption.

“If there was any wrongdoing, anyone who was involved must face the music,” Matebesi said.

The call by the EFF comes after Johannesburg-based security company Mabotwane Security Services obtained an urgent interdict from the Mafikeng High Court last month to stop a rival company appointed by the municipality from implementing the lucrative tender.

Mabotwane also wants the municipality to review the appointment of Ally’s Counter Force, based in Pretoria, arguing that its appointment was irregular and unlawful.

Mabotwane stated in court papers, which City Press has seen, that Ally’s was appointed despite failing to complete the MBD form (part of the document required for adjudication) and thus it was supposed to have been disqualified, as stipulated by the tender documents.

The interdict prevents Ally’s from rendering its services and allows the security companies that have been rendering services for the municipality to continue to do so, pending the outcome of the hearing, which will be held at a date to be decided.

“That the status quo in respect of the implementation of tender be maintained,” the court order says.

Documents in City Press’ possession confirm that the bid adjudication committee on the three-year contract security project recommended that Ally’s and Mabotwane be appointed last year.

Furthermore, the bid evaluation committee recommended that a legal opinion be sought on the recommendation to appoint two security companies, while the tender documents stipulated that only one successful company was supposed to have been appointed.

The technical report on security service providers shows that Mabotwane emerged number one after scoring 10 out of 10 points during the evaluation process.

Hwibidu Security Services emerged as runner-up after scoring six. Ally’s was third on the list after scoring only five points.

The report states that the technical evaluation team could not verify whether Ally’s was firearm-compliant and the address of their offices was not verified as they had not signed a lease agreement during site visits by the bid committee.

“The technical evaluation team was shown the firearm strongroom but could not gain access inside. The team could not verify whether the company was accredited for firearms, but was only told by the company CEO [chief executive officer] that they were accredited and had 90 firearms belonging to the company,” the report says.

Mabotwane was appointed but, despite scoring the highest points, was only required to provide 62 guards in less risky areas for just under R700 000 per month for three years.

However, Ally’s was required to provide the remaining staggering number of guards in other areas, including high risk ones, for over R8 million per month for the same period.

The tender required the successful company to provide a total of 518 guards for the municipality.

This move has left municipal insiders baffled. They said that they didn’t understand the rationale behind the municipality’s decision to deviate from the initial tender specifications.

However, Ally’s lawyer Mandla Tshabalala said that, according to the answering affidavit from the municipality, his client was not at “fault”.

“In our answering affidavit, we gave evidence that we complied. According to the municipality, the reason for wanting to review [the tender] was that they were not supposed to issue the tender to two companies,” he said.

Hwibidu managing director Walter Rachidi said the security company was considering taking legal action against the municipality.

“Our legal team has requested information from the municipality. How do you give a tender to a company which scored the lowest?” asked Rachidi.

He said the municipality must concede it made a mistake.

“This is a very stupid mistake. My advice to the municipality is that they must do the right thing and award the tender to the right company. We are not going to accept re-advertisement of the tender. We are going to challenge it,” he said.

Mabotwane declined to comment.

Municipal spokesperson David Magae refused to say more than: “The municipality, respecting the rule of law and its independence, will not make any further comment in line with the sub judice principle, until the matter has been finalised.”

The EFF’s Matebesi slammed the ANC-run municipality, describing the tender scandal as an attempt to raise funds for the ANC ahead of general elections in May.

He said the EFF would be joining progressive forces on the ground and in courts of law to get to the bottom of the cancer of corruption in the province.

DA North West premier candidate Joe McGluwa said the party raised the issue of the security tender at the recent portfolio committee meeting.

“We warned against the allocation of the security tender after it went to court.

“The DA is not surprised by what has happened as far as the adjudication of the tender is concerned,” he said.