The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that it will not be continuing with its prosecution of Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and others due to a lack of evidence.
In 2022, the Hawks and the NPA took on an investigation involving the Eastern Cape premier and provincial MEC for public works Babalo Madikizela over missing funds meant to ferry mourners to Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s memorial services.
In 2021, former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had made damning findings in a report that alleged that the two had irregularly benefited from a R1.1 million tender meant for Madikizela-Mandela’s memorial service.
According to the SABC News, the decision to drop the investigation was due to insufficient evidence with NPA’s Luxulo Tyali saying careful consideration has been made to arrive at this decision.
“We can confirm that the decision has been taken by the director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo not to prosecute Mr Mabuyane and others after careful consideration of evidence that was at the disposal of the prosecution. Following an investigation by the Hawks, a decision was taken not to prosecute because we felt that there was no winnable case.”
It is also reported that the ANC in the province has welcomed this decision and believes this was a political witch-hunt against Mabuyane.
The news of NPA’s withdrawal in pursuing this matter comes just as the ANC is gathering in the province as the party’s National Executive Committee continue its engagement with structures on the formation of the Government of National Unity and provide feedback on the resolutions from the recently held National Lekgotla.
On Saturday, the party in a statement commemorated the anniversary of the 28 martyrs of the Bisho Massacre who fell at the hands of the repressive Bantustan regime of Joshua Oupa Gqozo in the former Ciskei government on September 7, 1992.
The 28 ANC supporters and one soldier were shot dead by the Ciskei Defence Force during a protest march when they attempted to enter Bisho (now renamed to Bhisho) to demand the reincorporation of Ciskei into South Africa during the final years of apartheid.
“We dip our revolutionary banner in remembrance of these martyrs. The ANC commemorates this tragic event as it contributed to the transitioning and creation of a unified and democratic South Africa,” the party said in a statement.
The Star