Rustenburg – The Democratic Alliance in North West on Saturday called for an in-depth investigation into the alleged assassination of businessman Wandile Bozwana.
DA provincial leader Chris Hattingh said investigations should go beyond the alleged assassination and to the heart of the North West tender procedures involving Bozwana and other regular beneficiaries.
“This investigation should be politically independent and should include life-style audits of high-ranking politicians and officials involved in North West tender allocations and must be tabled for public scrutiny and debate in the provincial legislature,” he said.
“Only then the overdue reform of the North West tender and procurement system can start and can credibility be restored.”
The Mahikeng-born businessman died in hospital after gunmen fired at him in Garsfontein, east of Pretoria, on Friday afternoon.
Shots were fired into the passenger side of the car where he was seated.
His female colleague was driving the car.
She sustained minor injuries.
Hattingh said that according to North West public works MEC Madoda Sambatha, Bozwana received in excess of R1 billion contracts from the North West provincial and local governments and was currently involved in government-awarded projects estimated at R305 million.
Bozwana took the provincial government to court on numerous occasions.
Last month he won a court case to attach a state bank account with a R30m balance and 44 vehicles belonging to the North West public works department, over a disputed payment.
The provincial government took the case to the Constitutional Court and argued that the court order attaching the provincial bank account had a negative effect on service delivery, and a section of the State Liability Act prohibited that such orders be granted.
The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in North West said it was shocked at the Bozwana’s “untimely death”.
“We wish to convey our condolences to the Bozwana family, his comrades in the ANC and broad revolutionary alliance, his business associates and partners, and call on police not to leave any stone unturned until those responsible for his horrendous death are brought to book,” chairman Paul Sebegoe said.
Sebegoe appealed for calm and called on communities to come forward with information that might assist police in their investigation.
“Unfounded speculations will only serve to mislead the investigation and advance the nefarious agenda of those who seek to sow divisions and disunity,” he said.
The legacy of the “courageous and astute businessman” and his diversified business interests represented the success of black economic empowerment, which had been robbed of a pioneering champion and a partner in community development.
Gauteng police said no arrests had yet been made and investigations were continuing. – African News Agency (ANA)