Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2005-12-05 Reporter: Angela Quintal

Durban Executive First Civilian Implicated in Hoax E-mail Conspiracy Against Zuma

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date 2005-12-05

Reporter

Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

The chief executive of a Durban-based firm appears to be the latest casualty of the so-called hoax e-mail saga, which has already implicated intelligence agent Funi Madlala and suspended spy boss Billy Masetlha.

The origin of the e-mails is being investigated by Intelligence Inspector-General Zolile Ngcakani, while a parallel investigation is apparently being conducted by the police's crime intelligence.

The executive, whose name is known to the Cape Times, is the first civilian to face prosecution in this connection.

This follows a police raid in which incriminating evidence that allegedly links the businessman to a series of hoax e-mails was apparently confiscated.

Photographs of the businessman and ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma were apparently also found.

Zuma was the guest speaker at the businessman's company function a couple of years ago when he was still South Africa's deputy president.

Yesterday, the Sunday Times reported that the executive had business links with the ANC's secretary-general, Kgalema Motlanthe.

The newspaper also reported that the police and the inspector-general were investigating the possibility that Motlanthe was party to producing the so-called hoax e-mails, aimed at discrediting senior government and ANC officials in an alleged conspiracy against Zuma.

Some of the e-mails also referred to a plot to discredit Motlanthe, as well as former Northern Cape Premier Manne Dipico. This was contained in an e-mail exchange, purportedly between NPA head Vusi Pikoli and director-general in the presidency Frank Chikane.

Last month Chikane contacted senior government officials and ANC figures to assure them he had nothing to do with the e-mails and regarded it as "a direct attack on his own integrity".

Motlanthe yesterday denied knowing the businessman concerned or having any business links as reported. "I do not know who this person is."

Motlanthe would not comment on whether he believed that this too was an attempt to discredit him. He said he had not been contacted by police about any investigation.

In its reaction, the ANC said it rejected with contempt suggestions that Motlanthe was being investigated for "subversion".

The ANC "was unaware of any such probe into Motlanthe with respect to the supposed e-mails", party spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said.

The party was concerned that information supposedly relating to an investigation had been leaked to the media. "The ANC urges all institutions of state to conform to the highest standards of professional conduct at all times."

Ngonyama said he did not know whether the issue would be discussed at today's regular meeting of the party's top six officials in Luthuli House.

President Thabo Mbeki would be back in the country and was expected to attend.

The Democratic Alliance called for a speedy investigation to put the matter to rest.

The hoax e-mails investigations, as well as reports of a police raid on the National Intelligence Agency's office, raised concerns about the state of South Africa's national security, spokesman Paul Swart said.

"It is simply unacceptable that political infighting within the ruling party is costing our government's security arms valuable time and resources which could be used to help curtail the nation's soaring crime rate instead.

"In particular, the recent sharp increase in organised crimes against shopping malls and cash-in-transit vehicles urgently require increased criminal intelligence."

With acknowledgement to Angela Quintal and Cape Times.