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Johannesburg - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Thursday moved to clarify questions around Libyan assets in South Africa. He said some media reports on the issue were conflating fact and allegation and presenting these as facts.
People with evidence of Libyan funds and assets being brought into South Africa under "dubious circumstances" should hand it to the relevant Libyan or United Nations authorities, Gordhan said.
Gordhan confirmed that Libyan shareholdings in South African entities that were made on a commercial basis included the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton‚ the Centurion Lake Hotel‚ the Commodore and Portswood Hotels in Cape Town‚ and the Kruger Park Lodge in Mpumalanga.Regarding allegations of some Libyan funds and assets being brought into SA under dubious circumstances‚ Gordhan said there was no evidence of this.
“None of the people who have made these allegations have produced evidence regarding the transfer of these assets and funds to SA‚” he said in a statement.
“Those who have evidence should hand it over to the relevant Libyan or United Nations authorities.”
Gordhan had already met with minister in the office of the Libyan Prime Minister Usama al Abid‚ and agreed that any funds and assets found would be repatriated back to Libya following relevant United Nations channels.
"The Libyan authorities will determine the future of these assets and funds."
Gordhan said South Africa would continue to communicate with legitimate Libyan authorities on the matter.
It was reported that assets worth billions belonging to slain Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi were thought to be held by South African banks.
Gordhan said a group claiming to represent the Libyan government approached him in May. It presented what it claimed was proof of the transfer of Libyan government funds and assets to South Africa.
"This list was vague in providing any details that would enable the relevant institutions to trace the whereabouts of these assets," he said.
