North West - A day after his release on bail, North West senior government official China Dodovu came out breathing fire and accused “some ANC leaders” of conniving with law enforcement authorities to get him dismissed.
Dodovu further alleged that those who did not support President Jacob Zuma at Mangaung in December were victims of purging, which he said was rife in the province.
An MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the North West, Dodovu is also an ANC deputy chairman in the province that has been riddled with factions and infighting.
Dodovu said charges in connection with the murder of the secretary of the ANC Kenneth Kaunda Region, David Chika, in December were trumped up.
He said the charges were part of a political scheme hatched to discourage him from rooting out corruption in North West municipalities.
Dodovu said he was probing financial irregularities in the Matlosana Local Municipality.
He said he had discovered that the council had withdrawn more than R250 million from investments.
He said he was arrested before he could meet North West Premier Thandi Modise to brief her on the irregularities and planned actions to address the issue.
Addressing the media in Joburg on Wednesday, just less than 24 hours after he was released on R20 000 bail, he said a plan to have him arrested was also intended to “besmirch my reputation in a desperate attempt at forcing a cabinet reshuffle in our province as vigorously agitated by some ANC leaders in the North West”.
Dodovu promised to name individuals he claims were behind his arrest. He further claimed “the police know who has committed this hideous crime”.
“They must go and arrest people behind the killing of this comrade.”
He was arrested more than a week ago as the eighth suspect in the investigation of Chika’s murder.
Also released on bail at the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday were the ANC Youth League chairman in the North West, Papiki Baboile, ward secretary Tumelo Molomonyane, ward councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, former municipal employee William Molefo and taxi owner Khotso Kali.
Two other suspects, Jeffery Letuka and the man who allegedly shot Chika, Sihlangu Sikhakhane, were both denied bail.
Dodovu’s legal representative maintained his client’s innocence during the bail hearing, asserting that he was in Mafikeng on the day of the murder.
Dodovu said yesterday: “It is against this backdrop that I insist that the State’s case against me is weak, if not non-existent. My arrest can only point to an unholy alliance between some ANC leaders, the police and the prosecution, as the desperation with which a campaign to get me dismissed from the North West (cabinet), by summarily suspending me from the ANC PEC (provincial executive committee), only serves to vindicate my conviction about an orchestrated dirty tricks campaign against me.”
Meanwhile, the ANC in the North West has denied that some senior party leaders plotted Dodovu’s arrest.
“These allegations are baseless and devoid of any truth. We will not wish to dignify any of Dodovu’s rants,” ANC North West spokesman Kenny Morolong said.
He also said Dodovu had to use internal organisational protocols to raise any issues he might have about the ANC or any party members.
After Dodovu’s arrest, premier Modise had appointed finance MEC Paul Sebegoe to act in his position. Dodovu said he had had a discussion with Modise after his arrest and requested a few days to attend to some things.
Meanwhile, his fate hangs in the balance, with no certainty of whether he will get back to his government position or retain his party position in the province.
Dodovu said he learnt from the media that he had been suspended by the ANC along with Baboile.
But, he said, they did not have any details as they had not received any formal notification from the party.
When asked about Dodovu’s suspension, Morolong said he would “not confirm or deny the rumour”. He said Dodovu was still holding his position in the ANC and provincial government.
He had said earlier yesterday that the provincial working committee (PWC) of the ANC discussed the “implications of the PEC members and public representatives facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the murder of Chika” on Tuesday.
“The PWC will after consultation with the national leadership make all the necessary public pronouncements on this matter,” Morolong added.
The Star