Johannesburg – Minister of Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu says she is “not going to be bullied” after she hired bodyguards for former minister of social development Susan Shabangu, who raised serious concerns about her safety.
Shabangu is leading a high-level disciplinary committee established by Sisulu to investigate and criminally charge 166 companies, politicians and government officials implicated in massive tender corruption in which billions of rand were stolen from the department.
The ANC veteran’s life came under threat after the tyres of vehicles owned by witnesses invited to testify at the committee were slashed on two separate occasions in an effort believed to have been aimed at derailing the investigations.
As a result of the intimidation and threats, Sisulu has moved witnesses to a place of safety and relocated the hearings from the Department of Human Settlements building to a more secure location.
Despite being advised to also beef up her own security in the wake of the heightened security risk, Sisulu is understood to have refused to do so.
These details were revealed to Sunday World by highly placed sources who work closely with the two officials.
Departmental sources said intimidation of witnesses was part of a concerted effort to derail investigations by the committee and the special investigations unit into the theft of billions meant for mega water projects.
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Investigators and senior members of the disciplinary committee appear to be facing an extraordinary campaign believed to be directed at Sisulu, who, according to sources within the committee, will stop at nothing to break the stranglehold of water boards that are colluding with department officials and executives in what departmental sources describe as “cartel-like” behaviour.
“Grizzly murders of Water and Sanitation Department officials in 2015; the gunning down of a businessman accused of the ‘capture’ of Umgeni Water and its CEO, along with allegations of kidnappings and intimidation are being linked to specific contracts and implicated individuals in the alleged corruption,” said a source.
Officials close to Sisulu say she has kept her eye firmly fixed on the water boards that not only ensure bulk water supply to municipalities but are also implementing agents for the department on big infrastructure projects.
She has removed board members of the controversial Umgeni, Amatola and Lepelle Northern Water Boards. About 166 cases – many of which stem from auditor-general reports over several years – are also being pursued.
The source also said Sisulu’s anti-corruption stance has been met with resistance from those implicated.
Sisulu confirmed that she has beefed up Shabangu’s security personnel.
“We have beefed up her security after the vehicle tyres of our witnesses were slashed when they were parked in the Human Settlements building in Pretoria. We also moved the witnesses to a place of safety and moved the hearings to an undisclosed venue for safety reasons after the incidents,” she said.
“This commission has been established to check if these funds were lost through fraud or negligence or both, and if you know that you have done nothing wrong, why resort to violence. If you resort to violence, then you are as guilty as hell and you must be prosecuted.”
Sisulu said she was aware of an orchestrated campaign by those who want to destabilise the committee’s work.
“I don’t care whether they kill me or not. I’m not going to be bullied by these thugs. My safety is secondary, fighting corruption is primary,” Sisulu said.
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