CONTROVERSY over the links between the African National Congress and millionaire casino mogul, Mr Sol Kerzner, took a new turn yesterday, with the accusation that Mr Kerzner had offered to contribute Rand 2 million (£292,000) to the ANC's 1994 election campaign.
The allegation came from national executive member and former deputy minister, Gen Bantu Holomisa, who was military ruler of the Transkei until it was dissolved in 1994.
Gen Holomisa said Mr Kerzner's offer depended on the withdrawal of pleading criminal charges against him for paying R2-million to former Transkei prime minister, Mr George Matanzima, in return for a gambling monopoly.
The general, who was sacked as deputy minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism late last week, insisted that Mr Mandela had asked him about the offer because he was deeply disturbed by it. Presidential spokesman, Mr Parks Mankanhlana, neither confirmed nor denied that Mr Mandela had sought the general's advice. He emphasised, however, that Mr Mandela had indicated several times that he would not interfere with the due process of law.
Earlier, on Thursday, Gen Holomisa released the contents of a letter to ANC secretary general, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa; in it he alleged that senior ANC members had "extensive relationships" with Mr Kerzner and that they had "accepted favours" from him. Recipients of these favours allegedly included deputy president, Mr Thabo Mbeki ("Mr Kerzner is known to have funded the deputy president's birthday") and sports minister, Mr Steve Tswhete (Mr Kerzner purportedly extended free hotel accommodation for Mr Tswhete during the world title fight at Sun City, South Africa of British boxer Chris Eubank).
In a letter to Mr Kader Asmal, former chairman of the Irish AntiApartheid Movement and now South Africa's Minister of Water Affairs, Gen Holomisa said: "Sol Kerzner assisted our organisation on or before the 1994 elections."
The ANC responded by labelling Gen Holomisa's statements "blatant lies", triggering yesterday's riposte from him. The saga dates back to Gen Holomisa's testimony to the Truth Commission two months ago, when he recalled that Chief Matanzima had given R50,000 to Mr Mandela's Minister of Public Enterprise, Ms Stella Sigcau, after he had been paid R2 million by Mr Kerzner. Ms Sigcau was a member of the Transkei cabinet at the time.