Local political news is dominated by two simultaneous corruption probes. One concerns the Scorpions announced travel scam investigation into two ministers activities among others, while another by the Office of Serious Economic Offences focuses on fraud committed by Enver Motala.

Such investigations are indeed welcome, but they also have an unusual timing about them when one considers prominent names beyond such headlines. Penuell Maduna for one was noted as having substantial links to Motala in his role as Minister of Justice, and reportedly dispensed crooked favours both to him and the now suspended Lategan, with one such case involving the liquidation of the Retail Apparel Group or ‘RAG’ (Interestingly the independent auditors were also earlier attacked in the case surrounding the liquidation for shoody audit work done on the Accounts Receiveable book). So much so that his dictatorial style also involved crushing the resistance offered by two workers in the department.

Maduna himself is in turn reported to have links to Ngcuka, and both were earlier condemned by Public Protector, Lawrence Mushwana, for Ngcuka’s statement that he had prima facie evidence of Zuma’s alleged involvement in corruption surrounding the Arms Deal. Maduna was also singled out for lack of co-operation in the investigation and back in 2001 was a notable advocate for the propelling the Arms Deal investigation forward, showing recklessness by even at one point condemning the DA for its call for caution on the matter.

And while the Enver Motala story is developing, Ngcuka’s Scorpions (part of the National Prosecuting Authority under his control) are simultaneously undertaking their own investigation into the alleged Ministerial travel scam, when PriceWaterhouse Coopers are already doing so. The fact then that Mac Maharaj was so prominent in bringing the prior year’s Hefer Commission investigation into Ngcuka about, which claimed he was an Apartheid spy, while Maharaj was alleged to have dubious links to the shady Shaik brothers and Zuma in turn.

The dubious business dealing Brett Kebble, who it is alleged has his own political links, has in turn repeatedly tried to add his weight (not that under his belt trousers) to the movement against Ngcuka in response to an investigation launched into him by the NPA. This when Brett Kebble’s father, Roger Kebble, made a famously Nixon-like but uneloquent quote once that he was “not a f****** crook!”. Especially after their ousting from Western Areas and rumours of nepotism surrounding Randgold.

All of which paints a rather interesting (and speculative) picture of whether these investigations are perhaps not rather an exchange of blows from a pre-existing political stand-off between Ngcuka and Zuma, one which is catching others in the crossfire. Yet the benefits of such a political war are readily apparent for their exposing of corruption in the State. May it long continue.