STATEMENT BY LORRIANE MASHIANE, MP (COPE)

My name and reputation has been discussed extensively in the media over the last few months in relation to the finances of the Congress of the People in Parliament.  I have not issued a public statement before, because both Mr Shilowa and I did not want to bring the reputation of the party into disrepute by entertaining false allegations publicly.  However, the time for dignified silence has passed.

I want to assert that I am innocent of all wrong doing and know this fact will emerge in good time, in the right forum.  Today I wish to deal only confidential draft Forensic Audit issued by KPMG to my Parliamentary colleagues Dennis Bloem, Papi Kganare, and Juli Killian, which has been widely disseminated throughout the media.

I do not wish to address the content of the draft report, which was, according to KPMG's correct instructions, issued only to my three colleagues and was not for public distribution.

The draft report did not contain my input, which, notwithstanding my efforts and offers were not obtained.  Misleading statements in the draft report create the impression that I failed to cooperate, a matter which I instructed my lawyers to address.  I can confirm that a letter was delivered to KPMG on 10 November 2010 requesting that they correct the errors in the report.  My lawyers also requested that they answer certain questions.  Based on their replies I will decide what further legal action to take.

In respect of my alleged non cooperation, I want to point out that, when I received the request to cooperate, I asked KPMG to first give me information that would enable me to prepare for the meeting.  They declined to answer me, merely saying, on Friday 29 October 2010, that: "their client's instructions were to conclude their investigation on 1 November 2010 and that I could be interviewed on" 1 November.  There was no response to my queries.  Later that same day they said that I should direct my queries to the party leadership.

My lawyers have also addressed letters to the Party Whips and to Mr Lekota about the unlawful dissemination of the draft report.  At the time of this press release they have not received any response from either KPMG or the Party representatives.

Statement issued by Lolo Mashiane, Congress of the People MP, November 12 2010

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