In a members' statement in the National Assembly yesterday, DA Minerals and Energy spokesperson Ian Davidson said President Thabo Mbeki had not complied with a DA request to release all documents and correspondence relating to the deal reported in the Mail and Guardian newspaper last Friday.
These documents included correspondence between the executive, the Nigerian government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
"As I speak, there has been no positive response to this request and therefore the Democratic Alliance is now invoking the Promotion of Access to Information Act in order to obtain the documentation," he said.
"Release of these documents are important as it would appear that a lucrative oil contract intended for all the people of SA, secured with the aid of the President, has benefited only a select few, being a number of figures linked to the inner sanctum of the ANC, including the ANC's own fundraising trust.
"If what is alleged is correct, then this is an abuse of the President's Office and a potential fraud on the South African and Nigerian public," Davidson said.
The Mail and Guardian report alleged that a lucrative Nigerian oil contract, which was secured with the aid of Mbeki in 1999, was diverted to an offshore company with no benefit to South Africa.
"Instead, the company's local incarnation features figures linked to African National Congress interests," the newspaper claimed.
"Almost four years later, the contract is still running and the South African government has not acted to end what appears to be a fraud on the South African and Nigerian public," it said. – Sapa.
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