DURBAN - ANC Eastern Cape provincial Integrity Commission (IC) chairperson Professor Shepherd Malusi Mayatula has admitted that his committee relied on controversial Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s version of the story to clear him of any wrongdoing.
Mayatula said the committee did not attempt to communicate with the University of Fort Hare over fraud allegations against him before deciding to clear him.
The report clearing Mabuyane was communicated to the media last week after the IC had found no unethical or fraud-related conduct on his part.
He had written to the commission requesting it to investigate him.
This after the university deregistered Mabuyane in March after a scandal involving the university’s former public sector and economics Professor Edwin Ejioma, who was alleged to have received bribes from Mabuyane to help him register, despite the fact that he did not meet the requirements.
Mayatula said on Sunday that the IC had relied on documents made available to them by Mabuyane.
“We felt that there was no need for us to communicate with the university, as the matter is between the institution and the student. The integrity committee is satisfied that there is nothing wrong on the part of the premier,” said Mayatula.
No clear answer was provided by Mayatula as to how his commission had arrived at a decision to clear Mabuyane when it had only Mabuyane’s version.
Mabuyane’s spokesperson, Mvusuwekahaya Sicwetsha, said the process was fair.
A source who asked not to be named claimed the provincial chairperson used his political influence to manipulate the IC to rule in his favour.
“It is unheard of to investigate serious fraudulent activities and rule in favour of the accused person without even checking or considering documents and evidence put forward by the university which claimed that the premier defrauded it,” said the source.
A member of the ANC national IC, James Ngculu, said the commission would not comment on whether the process followed by the provincial IC was in line with the party’s processes.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said that the leadership had not met after the last national executive committee meeting; therefore, he would not be able to respond on the matter until the report had been presented to the leaders of the ANC’s National Working Committee.
Daily News