Mentor accuses ministers over Guptas

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor has filed corruption-related charges against three cabinet ministers and the Gupta family three weeks after the ANC closed its investigation into the family's influence on the state.

Mentor, who snubbed the ANC investigation, this week joined the chorus calling the probe led by Gwede Mantashe a whitewash and a waste of time.

Instead of submitting a written statement to Mantashe as requested, Mentor last month filed corruption-related charges with the police against Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies and Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

She also lodged corruption-related charges against state- owned weapons manufacturer Denel and the Industrial Development Corporation.

What about non-ANC people? We need a neutral investigation. There is no intention to widen the net

And she told the Sunday Times she was considering going to the police with a charge against President Jacob Zuma.

"I am also thinking about the president. But I don't just jump into decisions. I have not yet found good reason to charge the president. He is very smart. But something happened on a trip to China - something I observed, an attempt at coercion. I refused to attend a certain meeting," said Mentor, without elaborating.

Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that the unit was investigating Mentor's allegations.

Mentor, who is not optimistic about the prospects of her charges reaching the courts, made headlines earlier this year when she alleged that the Guptas had offered her a ministerial post during a meeting at their Saxonwold compound.

It had been expected that, as a member of the ANC, she would present evidence to Mantashe when the national executive committee ordered the party secretary-general to investigate claims about the family's undue influence.

However, only Themba Maseko, former CEO of the Government Communication and Information System, submitted a written statement to Mantashe.

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Mentor made a statement to the police on May 9 from her Cape Town home.

It was handed to the provincial head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Advocate Nombuso Portia Khoza, who escalated the matter to the national head office of the Hawks in Pretoria.

"I decided not to take part in the ANC internal investigation because it is ridiculous and it was clearly not an earnest effort. The intention is to pull the wool over people's eyes, to buy time and to test how much people know," said Mentor.

"Themba Maseko participated in the ANC investigation out of honesty, but he should have assessed the situation.

"I'm not stupid. It [the ANC investigation] is a waste of time.

"What about non-ANC people? We need a neutral investigation. There is no intention to widen the net," said Mentor.

She also voiced doubts about the Hawks.

Mulaudzi said Mentor's statement was a "confidential document forming part of an ongoing inquiry".

Brown said she welcomed any investigation that would bring closure to the persistent rumours regarding the Denel case. She also warned people against unfounded rumour-mongering.

Davies said the Industrial Development Corporation did not fall under his department.

In reaction, the Ministry of Defence said Mapisa-Nqakula had not been contacted by the police and was unaware that a complaint of corruption had been filed.