Investigative Directorate refutes reports of imminent arrest of Mantashe
The State Capture inquiry found that Mantashe unduly benefitted from the company, after it made security upgrades at his private properties free of charge.
FILE: Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe. Picture: Nthakoana Ngatane/EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - The Investigative Directorate has refuted reports suggesting police are planning to arrest African National Congress (ANC) Chairperson and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.
This follows reports that investigations into Mantashe's alleged links to Bosasa have reached an advanced stage.
The State Capture inquiry found that Mantashe unduly benefitted from the company, after it made security upgrades at his private properties free of charge.
Mantashe is accused of accepting bribes from Bosasa, which allegedly scored government contracts in return.
The state capture report, which was made public two years ago, found there is reasonable suspicion to investigate Mantashe's deadlings with the company.
On Sunday reports surfaced suggesting that law enforcement authorities are almost ready to pounce on the minister.
But Investigative Directorate Spokesperson Henry Mamothame dismissed the claims.
"The ID does not comment on its investigations, and it is important that a misstatement attributed to its office must be corrected. the ID has not decided nor discussed the imminent arrest of Mr Mantashe."
It is unclear where these comments come from, but they are not from the ID.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been criticised for failing to prosecute high-ranking officials accused of state capture related corruption.