Former finance MEC, Wendy Nelson, was on Tuesday acquitted of fraud charges during a trial which included former Health HOD, Dr Thabo Lekalakala. Nelson, who is a member of the IPC, was forced to step aside following the charges against her as per the policy of the ruling.

Nelson was also set to replace then MEC for Cooperative Governance (Cogta), Gordon Kegakilwe, who passed on due to Covid-19 complications but she was snubbed by her party for a move to the Provincial Legislature due to the charges against her.

ANC IPC Coordinator, Hlomani Chauke, previously told OFM News that after careful consideration and liaising with Nelson, it was concluded that it's not best to send her to the legislature to replace the deceased Kegakilwe.

Chauke conceded that Nelson was next on the list of members to be sent to the legislature but her deployment was pushed back in favour of Lena Miga. Chauke said as per party resolutions, the onus rests on accused officials, like Nelson, to clear their names through the court processes before they can be deployed to party positions.

“At the right time, once she has [resolved] her matter, I think comrade Wendy, like any other member of the ANC, will be deployed if there are any opportunities again to go the legislature. So it is on [that] basis that the ANC had to maintain what it preaches,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nelson was the Finance MEC during former North West premier Mahumapelo's reign and was at some point the acting Premier. In August 2019, Nelson was arrested by the Hawks and she was released on R20 000 bail that same day. The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said the state’s case was that Nelson had knowledge of Lekalakala’s alleged misrepresentation on the job application form (Z83) but went on to recommend him for this senior position to the then premier Mahumapelo.

OFM News