Friday, January 18, 2008

South African Land Minister and Bank Board Defends Acting CEO

PRETORIA 17 January 2008 Sapa

MINISTER AND LAND BANK BOARD DEFEND ACTING CEO

Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana and the Land
Bank Board on Thursday defended acting chief executive Phil Mohlahlane against allegations of sexual harassment and fraud.

"No complaints or charges have been received by the Minister of
Agriculture and Land Affairs or the Land Bank Board from any of the
employees of the Land Bank," Xingwana and the Board said in joint
statement.

"Should anyone have a case regarding sexual harassment against any official of the Bank they must follow the processes as set by the
Bank," the statement added.

This comes after several media reports indicated that Mohlahlane has been accused of sexual harassment.

Concerning a report that Mohlahlane was illegally registering
companies, buying properties and opening bank accounts on an identity document that has been cancelled, the two authorities said he informed them at the time that he had two identity documents.

"The Department of Agriculture and the Land Bank Board were
satisfied that the second ID had been issued because of his wish to
correct an error in the original document," the statement said.

"The Acting CEO has fully complied with the Bank's declaration
policy and his personal interests have been declared in the Land Bank's register of interests for directors and officers," the statement added.

The Saturday Star in December reported that Mohlahlane was issued
with two identity documents with different numbers and birth dates.

The first was issued in 1994 and cancelled when the second was
issued in 2000.

The paper reported that Mohlahlane continued to use this identity
document illegally.

"The Acting CEO has not been asked to resign and his position is not
in any way under review," Xingwana and the Land Bank Board said.

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