AfriForum asks US to act

DOSSIER: CALLS FOR AMERICAN INTERVENTION TO SANCTION ANC'S FIKILE MBALULA

- Marizka Coetzer & Brendan Seery

UNDER FIRE. The ANC is defending secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and rejects what it described as a smear camapign by AfriForum.

(Picture: Gallo Images)

Civil rights organisation AfriForum has called on the United States to use its Magnitsky Act legislation to sanction ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, claiming that it was forced to call on outside help because the South African police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were part of a protective umbrella over Mbalula, preventing him from being charged.

The Mbalula dossier was prepared by advocate Gerrie Nel and his investigation team at AfriForum’s private prosecution unit and is being used by the organisation as part of its ongoing efforts to convince the NPA to prosecute Mbalula on charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel also said AfriForum and Solidarity were doing everything possible to avert American punitive measures against South Africa in the interest of the country’s people.

Corruption Watch describes the Magnitsky Act as a “US law (2012) originally targeting Russian officials responsible for the death of auditor Sergei Magnitsky. The subsequent Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (2016) allows the US to impose visa bans and targeted economic sanctions on foreign individuals/entities globally involved in human rights abuses or significant corruption.”