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Former Deputy Minister of Economic Development Enoch Godongwana. Photo: Leon Nicholas
Deputy Economic Development Minister Enoch Godongwana had resigned to “pursue personal interests”, Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said on Sunday.
Godongwana had approached President Jacob Zuma in December asking to be relieved of his portfolio, but the president had asked him to stay on until mid-January, Maharaj said. Godongwana’s last day in office is on Monday.
Maharaj would not comment on the inquiry under way into the misappropriation of R100 million in clothing and textile workers’ pension money involving Canyon Springs Investments 12.
Godongwana and his wife, Thandiwe, own 50 percent of the shares in the company through a family trust. Godongwana appeared before the inquiry late last year, but his evidence could not be reported, as he may be recalled to give further testimony.
The inquiry is expected to resume this month. It has so far led to two arrests, those of former pensions consultant Richard Kawie – who, with Mohan Patel owned through family trusts the other 50 percent of shares in Canyon Springs – and Sam Buthelezi, who was the sole director of the black empowerment asset management company, Trilinear Capital.
Kawie reportedly facilitated the loan, which was invested by Trilinear.
Godongwana has denied being aware that clothing workers’ provident fund money was involved in the loan made to Canyon Springs.
At the time when the investments were made, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel was the general secretary of the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu). He reportedly told the Mail & Guardian he was unaware of the investments, as the funds were not his responsibility but managed by trustees.
Patel’s spokesman, Saleem Mowzer, said last night that the minister would not be commenting on the matter. He referred all queries to Maharaj, saying: “The Presidency is dealing with it.”
Maharaj said:
“The president has accepted the resignation and thanked the deputy minister for his dedicated service and duty to his portfolio and to the national executive.”
Zuma said the resignation was a huge loss.”Mr Godongwana is widely regarded in economics, with a Master of Science degree in Financial Economics from the University of London. He is also a former deputy minister of public enterprises and still a member of the ruling party’s economic transformation committee,” Maharaj said.
Godongwana was a member of the Eastern Cape provincial legislature from 1994 to 2009, becoming MEC for Provincial Treasury, Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism from 1994 to 1998, and 1998 to 2004, as well as MEC for Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism in the Eastern Cape until he joined the national government in 2010. - Political Bureau
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Anonymous, wrote
If Ali Bacher alone, as alleged by CSA CEO Majola, had access to about R5 million in bonuses during one world cup tournament, then the R100 million stolen and shared between Godongwana and so many others is nothing in comparison. Come on guys, these are comrades and are entitled to this looting. Their white counerparts that ran our country are filthy rich. The comrades are only catching up with the former looters. And, this is nothing in the sight of the black masses. The black poor do not really care how and where their leaders get their wealth. All they want is a black man to lead them. Starving to death and their children bribed with R220 pm by these leaders to have more children doesnt bother them. Not aat all.
Sarah, wrote
@brasco --- you are of course entitled to your opinion. I have merely stated facts that are easily verifiable from a number of reputable sources - e.g. TRC hearings, academic papers, research conducted by organisations such as the Institute for Security Studies, IDASA and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. My comments on Verwoerd & Co are entirely my own opinion of course. I never stated nor implied that any of the problems we now face are "the legacy of apartheid" - I simply said that we have been badly governed since 1948, and possibly since long before then. Since you ask, I am considerably older than 25; you would do well to send your children to the school I attended since i, unlike you, can spell; and thirdly, it seems to me that you may be the one suffering from indoctrination, first by the policy of Christian National Education (thanks FW!) and now by dinner-party whingers. Perhaps you should emigrate?
Ali concerned, wrote
This is big news when the Deputy Minister just resigns mid-term to "pursue personal interests" - and there are investigations underway about his activities!
Brasco, wrote
@sarah ...what utter rubbish . I don't know where to start ...it is all such ill informed indoctrination . This crime wave in politics is not new , BUT it is at an internationally unpresidented level , and according to you , all the black criminals are the legacy of apartheid . Your ignorance is breathtaking ! I could virtually guarantee the readers that you can never be older than 25 years , because if you were , you would at least have some gumtion of what is going on in SA . But sadly this is not the case . Where did you go to school ....I need to know where NOT to send my kids >
Sarah, wrote
@keepitreal - you're right, race isn't the issue at hand, poor government is. because the government from 1948 onwards did not invest equally in all infrastructure but primarily infrastructure that benefitted a small group of people, our infrastructure cannot cope with our population. Big Business and the Nats saw this in the 80s and it was a key driver in getting CODESA started. Again, the problem was poor government, just like it is now - and that brings us back to the incompetance and corruption of the Nats who for 45 years did not invest sensibly in SA's infrastructure. Now we all pay the price through massive expenditure on rushed projects which don't follow proper project management protocols and are therefore vulnerable to corruption and incompetence. I would imagine Verwoerd & Co are quite pleased with the way they inadvertently sabotaged things. On the other hand, they would be horrified to know how alike the Nats were to the ANC when it comes to graft and incompetence!
Sarah, wrote
@anonymous--- of course you find my commnets scary, because people who don't understand are always scared. Here is something to challenge your assumptions - I am a born and bred South African but have dual UK citizenship - but I'm stll here. Kind of makes nonsense of your whole argument, doesn't it?
^_^, wrote
EuropeanAmerican corruption, steal some fruit off a tree intended for others. African corruption, steal all the fruit off the tree, then proceed to chop down tree for firewood.
keepitreal, wrote
aagh bianca why don't we leave race out of this and talk about the issue at hand. Yes there is corruption everywhere and the Nats were corrupt too but the infrastructure of this country was in prestine condition then and more houses were built in the townships than today. Our infrastructure is now disintegrating at an alarming rate and the masses are poorer today than 15 years ago.
IAN STEWART, wrote
When will the masses realise that in Africa democracy only happens once. The party that takes power then loots whatever they can after destroying infrastructure like railways and training colledges that chew up money they can loot. And the masses who like blind sheep keep on voting them into power ?. They just get poorer and more stupid. It is time to get rid of the "power" by voting in strong opposition who can take some power away. The masses have the power - DEAL with the looting politicians - like only you know how!.
Anonymous, wrote
Bianca, wrote
@FrankHarty, the Apartheid Government leglised stealing from people- that's the worst kind of corruption there is!!!! It's comments like yours that make black people angry- the only reason it was better then is probably because the apartheid regime's corruption benefitted you!!
Anonymous, wrote
Looking at Sarah's comments is scary! Makes you realise how brainwashed the ANCorrput voters are. Well if you want to wear blinkers don't complain when we become Zimbabwe Number 2!! Oh, of course you will pack up and move to the UK.
Sarah, wrote
@Frank Harty, you miss the point if you think I condone corruption of any kind - I was merely pointing out that it's not only the ANC who does it. With regard to the Nats, the Info Scandal was a case of them getting caught; anyone familiar with the TRC hearings and similar investigations will know that questions about billions lost to the country by means of looted oil, military slush funds, police slush funds, "intelligence" slush funds, money for the Ossewa Brandwag and the like, will never be answered. Why? Because while now we appear to have very little accountability, then there was none - and as Vorster said, he never lay awake at night wondering if what he was doing was wrong. Astonishing but further proof that it is politicians who are corrupt, not political parties.
BlackSheep, wrote
Corruption is not political or racial, it’s a societal problem and we need to deal with it as such. These criminals belong in jail. We will not solve the problem if we continue politicizing certain issues!
aNON, wrote
our political masters have larnt well from the fraud and corruption of the 'arms deal'. BAE, french and german govt defence departments arms dealers taught these thieves all the tricks to do with bank accounts in virgin islands, covering the paper trail, so called 'commissions (bribes), denying theft, etc. they learnt well but are limited in the knowledge of how to apply it....thus we will continue to see them being exposed, one by one, year by year. since 1999 govt corruption in this country has exploded!
Frank Hartry, wrote
@Sarah---- You are obviously one of those who, twenty years after the end of apartheid, is of the view that if it happened then, why not now. Repulsive as apartheid was, that regime was certainly not ever as corrupt as this one. There was the Info inquiry scandal involving the abuse of R16 million in 1979. It involved the Nationalist government and resulted in Mulder and Prime Minister Vorster having to resign. This Anc led government is reputed to have looted billions of rands of taxpayers money and no resignations.
Khalsa Singh, wrote
Disgusting. Anyway.....I wonder how much he paid Zuma and other ANC bigwigs. In a civilized country this would be a scandal and Gondogwana would be in prison.....together with Zuma, Shaik, Selebi,Cele,Malema, and Maharaj.
Anonymous, wrote
O my word, why don't you look at his track record at the legislature in the Eastern Cape as well? Start asking questions and you will find the problems.
Anonymous, wrote
Sarah, wrote
Seems that the ANC learned a lot from the National Party when it was in power. All of you complaining about the ANC being corrupt and inept, just remember that the Nats did it first and worse. It's politics and power that causes corruption, no matter what party you belong to. that goes for the DA too...
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