The mayor of the Amathole District Municipality, Nomasikizi Konza, said she's innocent.
Khonza, four employees from the Municipality's Aspire Development Agency and former ADM councillor, Nanziwe Rulashe, appeared in court on Monday with several others on charges of fraud reportedly involving an amount of R6m.
They were all granted bail and will be back in court on the 18th of July.
In a statement Friday, the ADM mayor said that she and her co-accused would muster all legal and other resources at their disposal to counter the charges.
Khonza also questioned the timing of what she said was a well-orchestrated event by the Hawks.
Read her full statement below:
Following the unfortunate timing of some very public arrests by the Hawks on Monday, which Amathole District Executive Mayor Nomasikizi (Siki) Khonza avoided by handing herself over in complete cooperation with the authorities, media headlines drafted for maximum sensation all but confirmed to an unsuspecting public that the Mayor and Nkonkobe Councillor Nanziwe Rulashe are guilty of defrauding the very people they so loyally serve: “Mayor held in R6m fraud bust”, and “Municipal officials arrested after probe into pageant graft”.
After an investigation of apparently more than a year, we stand accused of fraudulently acquiring more than R2.5 million in municipal funds for ourselves, under the pretence of a donation to the annual Miss Amathole Heritage Beauty Pageant.
It is of utmost importance to note that Executive Mayor Siki Khonza also serves as an Acting Chairperson of the Amathole Regional Executive Committee, and the Regional Working Committee of the African National Congress, while Councillor Rulashe is a member of the same committees. It is also important to note that the Amathole Regional Committee held a successful List Conference on Friday, 20 May, where a high level of respect for the internal democratic processes of the African National Congress was endorsed.
We were made aware of our imminent arrest a day before the List Conference. This plot to disrupt the critical List Conference did not succeed and we successfully hosted the conference with no further hindrances. It is natural and democratic for members of the African National Congress to have preferred leaders when going to conferences, and it is sad when those who consider themselves to be losers begin to undermine ANC processes by using dirty and evil means.
On Monday, 23 May, all witnessed well-orchestrated Hollywood style arrests by the EC Provincial Hawks, with media and supporters of the known force behind the arrests, well organised, and in keen attendance. To the surprise of many, the Hawks were still securing statements and had not even finalised charges at the time of the public display. Also surprisingly, the Hawks were not alleging wrongdoing, but passing judgement that we have defrauded the state even though they still requested time for further investigation.
The fact that these arrests were effected and a court appearance facilitated at the exact time when the Provincial List Committee was presenting to the National List Committee here in the province, speaks volumes to the political plot of embarrassing and discrediting us in the public domain to cause irreparable damage to our political careers.
The Constitution of the Republic is the final arbiter and we shall defend our constitutional rights in the courts of law. We state categorically that we have faith in our constitutional democracy, and in our courts. We also state that we stand firmly against fraud and corruption as it robs the people whom we serve tirelessly. But we must also state that our constitution and courts will defend us from brown envelope investigators and journalists.
We are aware of plans to further harass Amathole leaders by Hawks intervention. What an abject shame that adversaries can gain access to the machinery of state for political expediency; for reckless and malicious intent, to cause maximum disruption in the execution of critical leadership in regional and provincial conferences, in the final run-up to the local government elections.
We assure the people of Amathole District; the African National Congress; and South Africans at large of three certainties:
1. That we are innocent of the charges already depicted as fact by a ravenous media and even by the Hawks who are supposed to investigate, and not to conclude, judge and attempt execution;
2. That we will muster the complete might of legal and other resources at our disposal to counter these false allegations reported as fact; to ensure that sensationalist reporters and media houses be disciplined; and to clear our names and confirm our reputations as proud, and worthy, venerable leaders of the people of the Amathole District; and
3. That we shall continue to serve our people through the leadership of the African National Congress as the only progressive and developmental political organisation in South Africa.
