Pule Mabe: “Stepping Aside as an NEC Member doesn’t Mean I’m Guilty of the Allegations Against Me”

The former ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe denies he resigned as the party’s NEC member because he is guilty of charges pressed against him.

(The Post News)- When announcing on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, after appearing in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge in eastern Johannesburg, the former ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed his step aside as the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) member. He, however, said this does not mean he’s guilty of the allegations against him.

Mabe and other co-accused are charged with 29 counts, including fraud, theft, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), money laundering, and assisting another to benefit from the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Mabe and Loyiso Mkwana, a former director at the Gauteng Agriculture Department, Thandeka Mbassa, who used to work at the government, Abdullah Ismail, a former Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at the Gauteng Agriculture Department, now CFO at the Gauteng Human Settlement department, Mmatlhekelo Mabe (Pule’s wife), Tinyiko Mahutsi, Enviro-Mobi, owned by Mabe, and Star Mass plead not guilty in all allegations against them.

According to Thandi Mbambo, the Hawk’s spokesperson, the accused were arrested after a forensic report conducted by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) into a tender issued in 2016 by the department requesting proposals to integrate and formalise waste operatives into the mainstream waste management economy.

Mbabo further says it was established during the investigation that R25 million was paid to Enviro-Mobi for 200 motorised three-wheelers, “though all goods were in the possession of the service provider” and none had been handed over. The purpose was to boost small and medium business participation in the sector.

The accused were granted bail of R30 000 each and are expected back in court in March 2025.

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Tumelo Khotha

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