Lungisa in missing millions concert scandal
Nwabisa Makunga and Gareth Wilson
FORMER National Youth Development Agency head Andile Lungisa will soon be hauled before ANC bosses in the Eastern Cape to explain his alleged role in a R2.5-million concert scandal which saw him nabbed for fraud and money laundering yesterday.
Lungisa, a member of the ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC), was arrested with three others yesterday morning and appeared at the Commercial Crimes Court in Johannesburg. They were released on R10 000 bail each.
If found guilty, Lungisa could be booted out of the PEC to which he was elected in June and could face a lengthy jail term.
Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko said the arrests related to R2.5-million paid by the National Department of Arts and Culture for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert in August.
The four allegedly lied to the department and promised that they would have American star R Kelly perform.
However, it was discovered that R Kelly's management had been unaware of any agreement.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said yesterday Lungisa was "the only one who knows the gravity of the situation and what his involvement is”.
"As the ANC we will definitely ask him to explain himself. And this time we will have to dig deeper to understand what happened, especially if it affects the integrity of the ANC.”
Should Lungisa be convicted, Mabuyane said, "the ANC’s constitution is very clear on what we should do, including with regard to deployment.
"If a person is found guilty, they may be found not suitable to hold office. But we cannot preempt the legal process.”
In court, Lungisa’s three co-accused – Xolisile Guqaza, Thabo Shogole and Ursula Sali – hid their faces from the media while Lungisa was chatting and smiling.
Ramaloko said suggestions that Lungisa’s arrest was politically motivated would be proven wrong in court. "Politics does not play role in policing. We have a strong case against them and this will be proven as the wheels of justice turn and the court case continues.”
Lungisa is no stranger to controversy.
He led the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) when it was heavily criticised for hosting a R69-million World Youth Festival in 2010, which reportedly turned chaotic.
The DA has welcomed Lungisa’s arrest.
Shadow minister of arts and culture Niekie van den Berg said: "We welcome the Hawks’ quick action in this regard and trust that other public figures implicated in defrauding the public purse will also be arrested.”
The Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade also welcomed the arrests. Spokeswoman Boniswa Tiwe said every effort should be made to bring those involved in acts of corruption to book.
The case was postponed until October 30.
