I will today be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, to ask him to explain why representatives from the ANC’s fundraising arm, the Progressive Business Forum (PBF), attended the China Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo as part of an official state trade delegation.

Deputy Minister of Water and Environment Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, also accompanied the PBF delegation in her official capacity. This is unacceptable, and a case of poor judgment on the Deputy Minister’s behalf. The only inference to be drawn is that she used her influential state position as a means to lobby for funds for the ANC.

State trade visits are designed to help deepen trade relations between South Africa and foreign countries. They are not an opportunity for the ANC to raise money from foreign donors, with the implicit understanding that a donation to the ANC will open doors to do business with the state.

This is not the first time the PBF has abused its close links with government to raise funds for the ANC, and offer its members exclusive access to government ministers:

April 2011: The PBF hosted a networking session in Cape Town, which was attended by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Marius Fransman and the Chair and Deputy Chair of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mninwa Mahlangu and Thandi Memela.
May 2011: The PBF hosted a business forum in association with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce in Havana, Cuba. Forty PBF delegates attended, and were accompanied by Deputy Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene.
June 2011: A PBF delegation took part in a trade and investment seminar in Mauritius that was arranged jointly with the Mauritian Board of Investment. Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa accompanied the delegation.

The abuse of state resources to generate money for the ANC is corrupt. Minister Davies needs to provide a full explanation for the PBF’s involvement in the China Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo. In addition, I will be writing to Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi to ask that she explain her participation in this visit.