Another Roux Shabangu scandal hits Public Works

03 November 2011 - 02:23 By Sapa
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Property tycoon Roux Shabangu
Property tycoon Roux Shabangu
Image: Simon Mathebula

The DA will ask Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to investigate another "lease scandal" by the Department of Public Works and businessman Roux Shabangu.

This follows revelations by the Independent Complaints Directorate to parliament's police portfolio committee, DA spokesman Dianne Kohler Barnard said yesterday.

Shabangu was named as the owner of a building leased by Public Works to be the directorate's base in Pretoria.

As with the SA Police Service leases in which Shabangu was involved, the rent for the directorate's premises "is reportedly grossly inflated", she said.

As a result, the directorate's rent for the past financial year jumped from R4.2-million to R15.6-million.

"The ICD's rental expenditure for the past financial year has increased by 400% as a result of the new Shabangu deal."

"Questions must be asked about Mr Shabangu's continued involvement in shady state deals, particularly given his reported connections to influential members of government, including President Jacob Zuma," she said.

The DA sought criminal charges against Shabangu for his role in the recent police lease deal saga in August.

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