Cape Town — Deputy President Jacob Zuma yesterday committed government’s full co-operation with public protector Lawrence Mushwana’s investigation into the affairs of state oil company PetroSA and two cabinet ministers.

He gave the assurance in Parliament in reply to a question by Freedom Front Plus (FF+) chief whip Corné Mulder, following the filing of complaints by the party with Mushwana earlier this week over what has come to be known as the Oilgate scandal.

The complaints followed reports that Imvume Investments, a company linked to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), donated R11m in public funds given to the firm by PetroSA to the ANC and made payments to relatives of two cabinet ministers, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Zola Skweyiya, in December 2003 .

Imvume or its CEO Sandi Majali allegedly paid R50000 to Uluntu Investments, a firm owned by Bonga Mlambo, a brother of Mlambo-Ngcuka, the minerals and energy minister, as well as R65 000 for renovations to the house of Skweyiya, the social development minister.

These payments were made within days of the transfer of R15m by PetroSA to Imvume in December 2003 in advance payment for oil condensate supplies.

A further payment of R15m was made later by PetroSA to make up for the money lost to the ANC through the R11m donation.

Meanwhile, it emerged in Parliament yesterday that PetroSA management would appear before the minerals and energy affairs portfolio committee on September 14 to present its financial statements and answer questions about the double payment of R15m to Imvume.

In the complaint lodged with Mushwana, the FF+ asked for an investigation into whether the alleged payment of R15m made by PetroSA to Imvume constituted improper conduct and maladministration by the management of PetroSA.

Mulder has also called for a debate in Parliament on the issue

Barry Aaron, a lawyer representing Imvume, said the firm had made arrangements to repay the advance.

With acknowledgements to Linda Ensor, Ernest Mabuza and the Business Day.