ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize says United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa's claim that the ruling party used the public sector pension fund to pay for its birthday bash is mere electioneering. Mkhize has threatened legal action against Holomisa after the latter approached the public protector with allegations that the Public Investment Corporation irregularly gave R42-million to the ANC.The party, Holomisa said, used the money to pay salaries to its staff and to fund its recent 104th birthday rally in Rustenburg, North West.Mkhize said Holomisa's claims were nothing but a ploy to dent the ANC's image ahead of this year's local government elections."We believe it's very important for the ANC to send a very clear message that we are not about abusing the workers' pension funds," he said.story_article_left1"We will be the first ones to stand up against that. We are not going to leave it to be politicised such that people believe [that they] must not vote for the ANC."That's why if necessary we will take [Holomisa] to court," said Mkhize.On Thursday the ANC sent a lawyer's letter to Holomisa asking him to provide it "with the information and documentation upon which you rely ... relating to alleged corruption in the Public Investment Corporation Fund"."We understand that you have either in your possession or access to information [or] documentation upon which you rely to make these unfounded allegations."We request that you provide our office as the legal representatives of the ANC with this information to enable the ANC and ourselves to consider same pending any investigation that the office of the public protector may or may not pursue."The ANC views the allegations and comments/statements attributed to you and/or the UDM in the various media to be defamatory ..." said the letter, from Brian KahnAttorneys.The Holomisa claim comes as the ANC is trying to mediate between an angry Cosatu and the government over retirement fund reforms.On Friday a defiant Holomisa told the ANC's lawyers that he would not be providing them with any information."It is strange and unusual for a suspect to demand information from a complainant on a matter that is under review by a competent institution," Holomisa wrote. "I have no other option but to view this act as a fishing expedition by someone who's panic mode has reached uncontrollable levels."story_article_right2Yesterday he told the ANC to "go jump". "They know they are in the wrong and that kind of behaviour puts the ANC in a bad light," he said."The ANC said my statement is baseless, so why would they want information from the person who made baseless statements?"In the complaint to public protector Thuli Madonsela, Holomisa claimed that the PIC transferred R40-million to the ANC. He said a further R2-million was transferred, by the PIC, to a company called Harith - also intended for the ANC. Both the PIC and Harith have denied the claims.Holomisa also asked Madonsela to investigate the R1.5-billion oil deal involving companies Sakh'umnotho and Kilimanjaro Capital.Mkhize showed some of the ANC's bank statements to the Sunday Times in a bid to prove that it had not received the money."In so far as the ANC accounts are concerned there is no R42-million that would have come during the time that he is talking about."There is no money from the PIC, no deposit that came from Harith. There is no involvement in an oil deal," said Mkhize.The ANC also offered to co-operate with Madonsela's investigation...