CAPE TOWN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) on Friday refuted allegations that former African Union (AU) Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is involved in illegal financial activities.
This came after Lord Peter Hain, a leading anti-apartheid activist who later became a prominent British politician, claimed in open letters to UK Chancellor Philip Hammond and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that Dlamini-Zuma is among 27 people embroiled in money laundering activities linked with the wealthy Indian Gupta family.
The allegations have prompted the FBI and British authorities to launch investigations.
The ANCWL has noted the media reports, ANCWL Secretary General Meokgo Matuba said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
Dlamini-Zuma, who is also the ANCWL's National Executive Committee (NEC) member, has been on record that she has no links with any of the Gupta associated businesses, Matuba said.
The ANCWL unreservedly support the fight against tax avoidance, money laundering or any form of illicit financial flows, Matuba said.
However, it will be suicidal for ANCWL leadership, supporters, members and society in general to isolate allegations attributed to Lord Peter Hain about Dlamini-Zuma from neo-colonialism and the interests of beneficiaries of apartheid regime in the outcomes of the ANC National Conference in December 2017, said Matuba.
Dlamini-Zuma is among the leading candidates to be elected as the ANC President.
Dlamini-Zuma "is a fearless, unapologetic cadre who advances the interest of society and remains a threat to imperialism and neo-colonialism and they (imperialists and former colonizers) will do all within their powers to stop her from leading the ANC and the country," Matuba said.
The ANCWL calls on its supporters, members and society in general not to be distracted by the attempts of Lord Peter Hain, FBI, UK authorities and their agents trying to cast aspersions against Dlamini-Zuma, said Matuba.
Matuba reiterated the ANCWL's supports for Dlamini-Zuma to be the next ANC President in December 2017 and the next president of the country in 2019.
Also on Friday, Dlamini-Zuma issued a statement, denying any financial dealings with the Guptas.
She said the only money she received, that is linked to the Gupta family, was the prize money she won after being named South African of the Year two years ago at an award show hosted by the family's New Age Newspaper.
According to Matuba, Dlamini-Zuma donated the money to a charity foundation.
In addition to Dlamini-Zuma, President Jacob Zuma, his children, Duduzane and Duduzile, are named on the money laundering list, along with two of his wives -- Thobeka Madiba-Zuma and Bongi Ngema-Zuma.
