"We can say they have been accused and it stops there"

Exclusive

Company accused of bribing Zuma puts up cash for party conference

French arms company Thint, at the centre of alleged bribery and corruption involving ANC president Jacob Zuma, is now helping to finance a party conference.


The Times can reveal today that Thint has agreed to help bear the costs of the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal provincial congress.

Thint is charged with corruption alongside Zuma, who allegedly solicited a R500 000-a-year bribe from the arms manufacturer.

In a letter sent to ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Senzo Mchunu on Tuesday, Thint managing director Pierre Moynot confirms his comp any's willingness to help fund the conference.

The letter, a copy of which is in The Times's possession, reads: "With reference to your letter of June 13 2008 noted. Please be advised we will donate an amount of R25 000 towards the costs of the conference. "I trust the above to be in order, kindly forward your banking details *2 in order for payment to be effected."

At the time of going to print, neither the ANC nor Thint had commented on whether the company has made other donations to the party.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has also been unable to explain why its secretary, rather than its treasurer, solicited the donation from Thint.

When approached for comment, Mchunu initially said he had not seen the letter and could not confirm that Thint had been approached for funding.

Later, he said there was nothing untoward about Moynot's letter being addressed to him.

"There's nothing wrong with a letter being addressed to anyone in the office ­ it happens all the time," he said.

Moynot could not be reached for comment yesterday. His office in South Africa said he was abroad.

When asked if the donation was not unseemly, given that Thint had been accused of trying to bribe Zuma, Mchunu said: "If it [the company] is not guilty, what's the problem? We can say they have been accused and it stops there.

There would not be anything wrong with the company making a contribution."

Thint is accused of having agreed to pay Zuma R500 000 a year in return for his undertaking to "shield" the company from being investigated in connection with the arms deal.

Zuma and Thint are scheduled to appear before the Pietermaritzburg High Court in August.

But the trial is not expected to kick off immediately because Zuma's lawyers intend to bring an application to have the matter struck from the roll.

Thint and Zuma are awaiting the outcome of Constitutional Court rulings related to the legality of searches and seizure of documents related to the corruption case.

Cape Judge President John Hlophe has been accused of trying to improperly influence the Constitutional Court to rule against the state.

At the three-day conference, which starts today, KwaZulu-Natal premier Sbu Ndebele is expected to be replaced as provincial ANC chairman by finance MEC Zweli Mkhize.

This would effectively mean that Mkhize will take over from Ndebele as premier if the ANC wins the general elections next year.

The run-up to the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal conference has also been dominated by a threehorse race for the deputy chairmanship.

Party veteran Willies Mchunu is to stand against Siyabonga Cwele, chairman of parliament's standing committee on intelligence, and Bheki Cele, the MEC for safety and security.

The position of deputy chairman has taken on greater importance in the province after Mkhize reportedly told party leaders he would serve only one term as both chairman and premier.

Whoever becomes his deputy will likely be in pole position to take over as premier and chairman in 2012. Another hotly contested position is that of treasurer.

Controversial health MEC Peggy Nkonyeni will slug it out with Sizani Dubazana, a Johannesburg-based businesswoman who is believed to have bought Zuma his house in Forest Town, Johannesburg.

DOCUMENT: Read the Thint letter

With acknowledgements to Nkululeko Ncana and The Times.