MBOMBELA – The premier Mr David Mabuza has accused Dr Mathews Phosa of being the writer of the report claiming he was an apartheid era spy.
“I know who wrote this document sent to the officials at Luthuli House. In my opinion Phosa is the author and distributor of this information and I will sue him for authoring this document.”
Mabuza had served in Phosa’s cabinet when he became premier after 1994. Phosa’s wife, Ms Pinky Phosa, also served on Mabuza’s provincial cabinet until this year’s general elections.
The incumbent said this week that his “good brotherly relation-ship” with Phosa soured when Mabuza was nominated to stand as the party’s provincial chairman. He went as far as to say that with all the challenges these positions had brought him, “I could not tell who was who in the zoo, but now it all comes together”.
Mabuza says he is also considering laying criminal charges against Phosa for forwarding the report to the ANC leadership, of which Phosa used to be a member as treasurer general.
The report alleges that Mabuza worked for the security police from 1985 to 1993. The premier has called the allegations “a pure lie” and said he was prepared to prove to the ANC that the allegations were unfounded. “I don’t know how one can describe my conduct as that of a spy, because I struggled. I was arrested and I served in the structures of the ANC.”
He has also suggested that president Mr Jacob Zuma appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter.
“I stand accused by one of my comrades, who was once the provincial chairman of the ANC and premier of our province. I am accused in my personal capacity as David Mabuza, and again in my capacities as the chairman of the ANC in the province and premier of the provincial government.”
Phosa said it was his duty to inform the party’s leadership of the report.
“I was not prepared to hide these allegations from my leadership. I simply reported allegations of crimes committed on our soil. This is the duty of every citizen. It doesn’t matter who the source is alleged to be. The message in the report suggests more information and leads to what eluded the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” Phosa said.
