PP investigates Mbalula’s Dubai trip on AfriForum’s request

AfriForum was informed by a representative of the office of Busisiwe Mkhwebane, Public Protector (PP), that the PP decided to launch an investigation into the funding of a trip of Fikile Mbalula, former Minister of Sport and Recreation, on request of the civil rights watchdog.

This investigation will be done in agreement with the terms of Section 3 and 4 of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, 1998 (Act No. 82 of 1998) and originates from allegations that Sedgars Sport, a sporting goods supplier, coughed up between R300 000 and R680 000 for the Mbalula family’s trip.

“It is extremely suspicious that Mbalula was the Minister of Sport and Recreation during the trip and the company which apparently sponsored the trip conducted business with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). An investigation by the PP can possibly reveal a conflict of interest, as well as a possible corrupt relationship between Mbalula and Sedgars Sport,” says Monique Taute, Head of AfriForum’s Anti-corruption Unit.

AfriForum welcomes the decision by the PP to investigate the allegations.