ANC leaders in the Amathole District region yesterday handed a memorandum over to the provincial offices of the Hawks, upon hearing its regional secretary Teris Ntutu and ANC member Khanyile Maneli would be arrested, following investigations into alleged fraud.
This follows the arrest of ADM district mayor Nomasikizi Khonza and Nkonkobe’s Ward 5 councillor Nanziwe Rulashe – and seven others – by the Hawks last week on allegations of fraud totalling R6-million.
Their arrest comes after money was allegedly paid to Rulashe’s Miss Amathole Heritage pageant stokvel account by the ADM.
The Hawks said the money pledged to Rulashe for the pageant dates back to 2014 and last year.
Maneli is CEO of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, which officially pledged R10000 towards the last year’s pageant at the University of Fort Hare.
It is alleged that Rulashe used the money paid into the stokvel account, to purchase two vehicles, which were registered under her name.
Khonza criticised the “Hollywood- style arrests” saying she had known of her arrest a day before the party’s list conference which was held in Fort Cox last month.
“This plot to disrupt the critical list conference did not succeed. To the surprise of many, the Hawks were still securing statements and had not even finalised charges at the time of the public display ,” Khonza said. Ntutu said information that he and Maneli would also be arrested was reckless and was meant to disrupt the leadership of the Amathole region.
The exact details of the memorandum handed over to the Hawks, is being kept under wraps.
“No doubt the subverters are also attempting to unduly, irregularly and inappropriately influence the upcoming regional conference. I am a servant of the people of Amathole and I have nothing to fear but the neglect of the people I have the pleasure and duty to serve,” Ntutu said.
Khonza, Rulashe and seven others, s are expected back in East London Magistrate’s Court on July 8.
They all face charges of fraud.
ANC pair’s nervy wait as Hawks pounce with R6m fraud charge
This follows the arrest of ADM district mayor Nomasikizi Khonza and Nkonkobe’s Ward 5 councillor Nanziwe Rulashe – and seven others – by the Hawks last week on allegations of fraud totalling R6-million.
Their arrest comes after money was allegedly paid to Rulashe’s Miss Amathole Heritage pageant stokvel account by the ADM.
The Hawks said the money pledged to Rulashe for the pageant dates back to 2014 and last year.
Maneli is CEO of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, which officially pledged R10000 towards the last year’s pageant at the University of Fort Hare.
It is alleged that Rulashe used the money paid into the stokvel account, to purchase two vehicles, which were registered under her name.
Khonza criticised the “Hollywood- style arrests” saying she had known of her arrest a day before the party’s list conference which was held in Fort Cox last month.
“This plot to disrupt the critical list conference did not succeed. To the surprise of many, the Hawks were still securing statements and had not even finalised charges at the time of the public display ,” Khonza said. Ntutu said information that he and Maneli would also be arrested was reckless and was meant to disrupt the leadership of the Amathole region.
The exact details of the memorandum handed over to the Hawks, is being kept under wraps.
“No doubt the subverters are also attempting to unduly, irregularly and inappropriately influence the upcoming regional conference. I am a servant of the people of Amathole and I have nothing to fear but the neglect of the people I have the pleasure and duty to serve,” Ntutu said.
Khonza, Rulashe and seven others, s are expected back in East London Magistrate’s Court on July 8.
They all face charges of fraud.
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