What+are+the+SAPS+doing,+SACP+Press+Statement

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 * SACP Press Statement, 16 February 2008 **


 * What are the SAPS doing? **

The South African Communist Party has taken note of the most recent allegations made by the legal firm Zehir Omar Attorneys. According to Zehir Omar Attorneys the charges levelled against our General Secretary, Cde Blade Nzimande, by Charles Modise were trumped up by certain forces within the National Prosecuting Authority as part of a political agenda directed against Cde Nzimande in the course of last year. The legal firm goes further to allege that Modise never personally laid charges against Cde Nzimande, and that Modise's continued detention is related to his failure to back up this concocted story.

We have no independent means for verifying any of this. We are, however, deeply disturbed by the response yesterday on radio of a senior Gauteng SAPS officer who says that the police are now "beginning the forensic investigation". What on earth have the police been doing for the past seven months? In any case Cde Nzimande is aware that his bank accounts were in fact scrutinised in the middle of last year by the authorities.

For its part, the SACP instituted its own task group on this matter, which could find no evidence whatsoever of any unaccounted for donation. To ensure that, to the best of our powers and abilities, we leave no stone unturned in this matter we have also requested an independent forensic auditor to do a life-style audit of both Cde's Blade Nzimande and Willie Madisha. The independent auditors have just communicated with us to say that their report has been delayed because they are unable to secure any cooperation whatsoever from Madisha. The Political Bureau of the SACP has now instructed the independent auditors to produce those findings that they have been able to make within two weeks so that this matter does not drag on indefinitely.

As for the SAPS, it is outrageous that they allow this matter to be dragged out in this way. It is this culture of endless investigation that is indeed worrying. We call on the police to bring this matter to close as a matter of urgency.


 * Issued by Jeremy Cronin, SACP Deputy General Secretary**


 * For further information contact, Malesela Maleka, SACP Spokesperson**

By e-mail

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