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Raid on former premier hailed

Selby Makgotho

Selby Makgotho

The United Independent Front (UIF) has welcomed and congratulated the Scorpions for "having the guts" to raid former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi's two houses, saying such action was long overdue.

The elite investigating unit of the National Prosecuting Authority raided Ramatlhodi's Magoebaskloof mansion near Tzaneen in Limpopo and another in Faerie Glen, Tshwane, in the early hours of Thursday last week, in what is believed to be an "ongoing investigation into the former premier's alleged corrupt activities during his tenure".

The probe is about a R750million tender allocated by Ramatlhodi's government in 2002.

Ike Kekana, UIF's acting president, yesterday said it was dismaying that the others saw the raids as abuse of power.

"The same President Thabo Mbeki they are accusing of abusing power appointed Ngoako Ramatlhodi as premier of Limpopo on two occasions, despite George Mashamba being the ANC provincial chairman at one stage," Kekana said.

"We are interested to know from those think Ramatlhodi abused his power how much they benefited from the allocation of tenders during Ramatlhodi's term. Why don't people wait until Ramatlhodi has his day in court before they start behaving like headless chickens?" he asked.

Kekana said the Scorpions shouldn't get excited and mess up the Ramatlhodi case like they did with other cases.

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