Businessman and former African National Congress (ANC) former treasurer-general Dr Mathews Phosa has rejected Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza's request for the postponement of a trial involving allegations that Mabuza was an apartheid spy.
During an exclusive telephone interview with Phosa, he confirmed that he had rejected Mabuza's request for a postponement of the trial, which is due in court today.
"I can confirm that we did receive the request for the postponement from his (Mabuza's) lawyers and it's true that I have rejected it," said Phosa on Sunday.
The case, in which Phosa is the accused, emanates from a “Top Secret” report which alleges that Mabuza was an apartheid government informer who spied on leaders of the ANC including Phosa, President Jacob Zuma, and other ANC leaders.
Mabuza has consistently denied the allegations, which threatened to split the governing ANC between Phosa and Mabuza’s supporters.
During a media conference in November 2014, Mabuza announced that he had opened a criminal defamation case and that he was suing Phosa for R10 million.
The matter was never set for trial, until Phosa successfully applied for a set down at the High Court in November 2015.
Phosa said that the request for the postponement did not specify the reasons.
If Mabuza fails to persuade Phosa to agree to a postponement, he may have to pay for all the legal costs if he fails to appear in court today.
“They are allowed to ask for the postponement of the trial but we are not persuadable,” said Phosa.
Mabuza’s attorney, Davis Mculu’s phone rang unanswered.
The premier's spokesperson, Zibonele Mncwango, has also failed to respond to questions relating to the matter.
- African Eye News Service
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