The African National Congress (ANC) said a forensic investigation has revealed that two junior staff members, entered into an unauthorised contractual agreement with Ezulweni Investments for the 2019 general elections.
The contract with the printing and marketing company was to procure banners and posters for the party
This was revealed by the party Secretary General Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing at the Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
Mbalula’s comments come as the Sheriff on Monday attempted to attach the party’s property for the R102 million debt but was allegedly prevented by ANC staff members to execute the order.
Mbalula is however adamant that the Durban-based company never rendered services to the ANC.
“Upon learning of this debt, we initiated an investigation to understand its origins.
It emerged that two junior staff members, without the party authorisation, had been dealing with Ezulweni, the ANC leadership didn’t sanction these interactions.
We commissioned a forensic investigation, the investigation completed early this year, revealed criminality and corruption between Ezulweni and the unauthorised staff members,” said Mbalula.
The company approached the court seeking an order to seize ANC assets, after the party failed to settle the debt.
But Mbalula said their report provides incontrovertible evidence of Ezulweni Investments offering substantial bribes to the two staff members.
According to Mbalula, these individuals in turn forged documents that were presented to the company, falsely indicating that the ANC had engaged in their services.
“There’s no evidence to suggest that Ezulweni was responsible for erecting posters and banners for the ANC during this period.
If they did, it was under fraudulent,” explained Mbalula.
He highlighted that as the ANC Head of Campaign during the 2019 general elections, his responsibilities included overseeing various aspects of the campaign, including procuring elections material, but he never engaged with Ezulweni Investments.
The party said it became aware of Ezulweni Investments legal proceedings in 2020, demanding payment for material used in the 2019 elections.
Mbalula said they’re now taking the matter to the Constitutional Court, hoping that the court will accept the forensic report into evidence at this late stage.
He reiterated that the party has actively pursued those implicated in the internal forensic investigations and warned those whom he labelled as attempting to distort money from the and ANC and liquidate it.
“I can put my head on the block, and no one will liquidate the African National Congress.
As the ANC we will never pay millions of rand to something that never happened.
If we procured posters of R102 million it would have meant that we still have those posters even today,” explained Mbalula.
