24 May 2001
Perumal Naidoo, a convicted robber in South Africa's biggest cash robbery, told the Durban High Court that he gave his entire share of the takings to the South African Communist Party (SACP). He is one of 16 people found guilty of the R31 million robbery of a van transporting cash in Pinetown in 1996. The van belonged to the SBV Security Company.
The SACP rejects this false statement from Perumal Naidoo with all the contempt it deserves. Naidoo's statement is either aimed to discredit the SACP or is a statement from a criminal who is desperate to get a lenient sentence by justifying his crime.
For the record, the SACP has never received any money from the proceeds of any criminal act including the 1996 SBV heist which Naidoo is convicted for. The SACP has never authorised any of its members or associates to receive stolen money from Naidoo or any other criminal.
If Naidoo handed over any money to any individual on the pretext that this individual represented the SACP, the SACP calls on Naidoo to name any such individual so that the SACP can investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. Further, the SACP will also ensure that any such individual is disciplined in terms of the SACP Constitution, if such an individual is an SACP member, and that this individual is handed over to the police for a criminal investigation.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity South African Communist Party
Tel: 011 339 3621
Fax: 011 339 4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org