THE Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has opened a case against Mthunzi Mdwaba and his company, Thuja Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
The case was opened at the Brooklyn Police Station on Tuesday, 28 November for his failure to report known or suspected corruption to law enforcement authorities.
According to the minister, he never had a close relationship with Mdwaba. He even said a failure to report criminality constitutes a criminal offence.
Nzimande also said that Mdwaba came up with allegations that he and a few of his colleagues had asked for a bribe from Mdwaba.
"Ostensibly in order to ensure that the tender he claims with the Department of Labour gets approved. This is a blue lie. There is no such, and I never sent anyone.
"If Nzimande and some of his colleagues he mentioned asked him for a bribe, why didn't he go to police to report it because it's illegal? It's corrupt practices," he said.
ALSO READ: Flames eat makoti's Brazilian hair
Furthermore, the minister said Mdwaba had alleged that he didn't trust law enforcement agencies.
"It means that by his admission, an act of corruption has been committed by myself and he doesn't want to report it.
"Nzimande said it's very strange for someone who claims to be a lawyer, also someone claiming to be a professor and businessman. He should be knowing these things very well.
"He has actually committed a crime by not reporting about fraud and corruption," he said.
Nzimande said Mdwaba must be able in a court of law, explain why he didn't report the matter when aware of these criminal activities. He said the story that the person is telling is just not coming together.
"But yes, it has got potential to damage my image as a political person. We are going to elections and don't want this thing to be hanging over my head," said the minister.
He said this is intentional to smear his, ANC's and SACP's name.
He said he was doing this deliberately.
"He has never come to me to say: Nzimande, have you really sent someone to ask for this money? He goes to the media and mentions me and can't mention people I sent. It's strange," said Nzimande.
He said Mdwaba will have to account for this. Nzimande said he has no relationship with Mdwaba.
