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FS Premier responds to Zondo commission allegations

───   PULANE CHOANE 17:11 Tue, 26 Mar 2019

FS Premier responds to Zondo commission allegations | News Article
Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela/OFM News

The Premier of the Free State, Sisi Ntombela has broken her silence following statements made during the Zondo Commission into State Capture, which claimed that the provincial government is uncooperative with regards to helping the commission.


This follows after the lawyer of Mxolisi Dukwana, a former MEC in the province, told Deputy Justice Raymond Zondo yesterday that the provincial government was not cooperating with regards to providing evidence with regards to the Commission's investigation into the matter. Dukwana was supposed to give evidence into the extent of state capture, particularly within the province, however, following these revelations, his appearance was postponed to 05 April. Ntombela said comments made by Dukwana’s lawyer were not forthcoming and she has noted them with concern.

 

“The Free State Provincial Government has previously, through its highest officials, committed itself publicly to cooperate with the Zondo Commission and, as acknowledged by the Chairperson of the Commission, the Premier also expressed the same commitment to the Chairperson. As far as Dukwana’s anticipated appearance before the Commission is concerned, the Free State Provincial Government in fact cooperated where possible. Full cooperation was given to the Sheriff when the initial provisional order was executed. This was in fact recorded under oath by the independent supervising Attorneys appointed by the Court to accompany the Sheriff. The Advocate, representing the Premier and the MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), Limakatso Mahasa, indicated to the Presiding Judge when arguments were presented in opposition of Dukwana’s application, that he may take possession of the documents attached by the Sheriff despite having received legal advice that Dukwana’s application was bad in law,” Ntombela said.

 

She further then says that the provincial government has committed itself fully to cooperating with the Commission, as she cited that all the relevant documents, which include cell phone records, document transcripts and were handed to Dukwana personally on 15 March 2019, and this was done despite the fact that judgment in Dukwana’s application has not been delivered as yet. She further states that some documents, despite the provincial government’s best efforts, could not be found. She further stated that the provincial government’s Director General, Kopung Ralikontsane will now prepare to meet with the representatives from the Commission who will now soon pay a visit to the relevant offices in an effort to resolve the matter.


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