The Public Protector has confirmed that she would conduct a preliminary investigation into bribery claims against deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe and his partner Gugu Mtshali.
Earlier media reports claimed that Mtshali had allegedly tried to solicit a bribe to obtain government support for a South African company to secure a sanction-busting deal with Iran.
They have both denied the claim and Motlanthe has asked the Public Protector to probe the claims.
The Public Protector says her preliminary probe will try to establish whether anyone in the Presidency or the Department of Trade and Industry may have participated in unlawful conduct involving the use of state resources or power.
She says she will provide the outcome of the preliminary investigation by no later than April 15th.
