Cape Town - The DA has asked Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to investigate Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene over an alleged breach of ethics relating to allegations about a Public Investment Corporation investment in S&S Refinarias which may have benefited the minister’s son, Siyabonga Nene.
Nene Junior was reportedly paid a " referral fee" of US$ 1.7 million (over R25 million). Over the past weekend, the Mail&Guardian published explosive details of the alleged deal.
David Maynier, the DA's Shadow Minister of Finance, said he requested the public protector to investigate Nhlanhla Nene "in terms of Section 4 of the Executive Members Ethics Act (No. 82 of 1998), to determine whether there was any breach of the executive code of ethics, which is applicable to ministers, and to deputy ministers, in South Africa".
According to Maynier, the public protector's office has agreed to investigate Nene, who is at the centre of a political storm after admitting to meeting with the controversial Gupta family a number of times. Political parties are calling for President Cyril Ramaposa to replace the embattled finance minister, despite his apology to the nation for the meetings.