Response to Sunday World: “Ministers demanded R500m bribe for UIF jobs deal, claims Mdwaba”
We are aware of the new claims attributable to Mdwaba in the Sunday tabloid, and reject them with contempt as false and without foundation. The allegations are completely unsupported by facts or any piece of evidence.
There is mention of three cabinet ministers, but no names are given. In any case this matter would not have been decided at Cabinet level. Mdwaba speaks about being approached by middlemen for a bribe, but again no details are given.
So, no facts, no proof, and most concerning: no attempt by the journalists to investigate the veracity of the allegations. The newspaper must consider the risk in publishing the unsupported claims of an individual previously declared a delinquent director and unfit to hold certain positions by the courts, and someone who had a personal direct interest in what presents itself as an irregular R5 billion UIF-Thuja jobs deal.
The journalists might also ask why it took 10 months, since the deal was blocked, for these allegations to emerge. Clearly a case of misdirection in an attempt to steer attention away from the main issue: the emerging irregularity of the deal.
Whilst the minister is not involved in the operations and finances of the Department, he is required to exercise general oversight to ensure that policies and correct processes are followed. The irregularity of the deal will be tested in court. But the evidence of conflict of interest, on the part of Mdwaba (as Chair of Productivity SA and CEO of Thuja), and lack of due diligence, attested by more than one responsible body, is clear enough, thus he has been removed from Productivity SA in terms of the Employment Services Act.
A last example of simple distortion of facts, the Sunday Times, as long ago as December 2022, reported that both the then DG and UIF CEO had confirmed that no due diligence was done nor needed to be done according to them. The journalists could have easily obtained the referenced IDC (Industrial Development Corporation) letter to this effect, exposing the lies of their source. The independent investigation report, provides facts which the newspaper source never responded to, nor contested, during the investigation.
The article lacks journalistic integrity; it was not intended to convey a credible story but appears to be bolstering Mdwaba’s desperately contrived narrative of a misunderstood activist.
Media enquiries:
Sabelo Mali
Spokesperson to the Minister (Media Liaison Officer)
Cell: 082 729 5808
E-mail: Sabelo.mali@labour.gov.za
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
