IEC to investigate claims of ANC’s ‘dirty money’ from Bosasa
The DA says Bosasa set up ANC election ‘war rooms’ over the past three elections and gave the party R6m to fund its election campaigns
The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) will investigate a DA complaint that the ANC received election money from the corruption-tainted Bosasa.
Bosasa — which recently went into voluntary liquidation because it could not operate without bank accounts — has been accused during evidence presented to the state capture inquiry by its former COO Angelo Agrizzi of having bribed government officials and ministers with millions of rands to win lucrative government contracts.
IEC manager of legal services Nilan Rampershad confirmed in a letter to DA leader Mmusi Maimane that the DA’s complaint would be referred to its directorate of electoral offences for investigation.
Maimane said the allegation to be investigated was that Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations, set up ANC election “war rooms” at their Krugersdorp headquarters over the past three elections and funded the election campaigns to the tune of R6m.
Maimane said the DA believes that the allegation, if true, points to a contravention of Section 9(e) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, which states that “no registered party or candidate may abuse a position of power, privilege or influence, including parental, patriarchal, traditional or employment authority to influence the conduct or outcome of an election”.
Maimane claimed that the ANC used these Bosasa-funded “war rooms” to campaign ahead of the 2011, 2014 and 2016 elections.
The expenditure included a R400,000 election result tracking screen wall; R450,000 worth of computers and software licensing; a R14,000 weekly phone bill; 30 cubicles and telephones; R210,000 for food, drinks and software for 70 volunteers; and R700,000 in office security and volunteer payment.
“The fact is this R6m benefit the ANC received from Bosasa is dirty money,” Maimane claimed.
“It is high time that the ANC pays back every cent of the money it has received from Bosasa.
“The IEC needs to assure SA voters that these ANC-Bosasa dirty tricks will not play out in the 58 days before election day.”
ensorl@businesslive.co.za