Gugile Nkwinti violated ethics code in deal with heist-accused ‘friend’
Public protector finds that Nkwinti abused his position of authority when he was minister of land and rural development
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has made a damning finding against minister Gugile Nkwinti‚ establishing that he has violated the executive ethics code and the constitution. In a report yet to be released by her office‚ Mkhwebane has found that Nkwinti — now water and sanitation minister — abused his position of authority when he was minister of land and rural development when he influenced his department to buy a farm and allocate it to his friend. The investigation by Mkhwebane's office confirmed a Sunday Times report in 2017 that Nkwinti had introduced a former ANC staff member from Luthuli House‚ Errol Velile Present‚ to officials in his department. Eight months later‚ the department bought a R97m farm in Limpopo and handed it to Present and his business partners. Present was fired by the ANC last year after he was arrested for alleged involvement in cash-in-transit heists. His trial is still under way. Mkhwebane found this to be an abuse of position by Nkwinti and that he h...
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