The Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Paulus Noa, tried to set the record straight this week by clarifying that the ACC is not formally probing Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium, but is in the process of assessing a corruption complaint received from a member of the public. Recent media reports suggested the ACC is scrutinising Rössing, but to the contrary the mining giant publicly denied any knowledge of it.

“If there is a complaint against you or against me, we will be the last to know and the last to be approached,” explained Noa on a question by Informanté as to whether the ACC is conducting an inquiry into Rio Tinto Rössing.
The mining colossus’ has stuck with its tried and tested public relations strategy of refusing to react to rumours and not commenting on any internal issues. Informanté recently carried a front page article titled: “N$450 million fraud uncovered at Rössing.” The mining giant came out of its corner punching, accusing this newspaper of reporting on internal company matters and rumour-mongering.
Noa explained that the ACC is busy laying the groundwork for a possible investigation, but added categorically that if no substantive evidence is found there would be no need for further actions. If there are grounds for a probe, only then would Rio Tinto Rössing be engaged. Noa said that a complaint alleging fraud had been received and that it is the ACC’s duty to follow it up, but he would not be drawn on whether the complaint came from a mine employee, a goods supplier or a service provider.  Meanwhile Informanté also made a second attempt in as many weeks to speak to Jan Groenewald over the news that he was originally suspended and then fired from Rio Tinto Rössing. “I don’t have something to say to you people,” an audibly agitated Groenewald said several times during a brief telephone exchange on Tuesday. He promptly put down the phone when asked if he was sacked for dishonesty. On previous inquiry Groenewald had insisted that he was on ordinary holiday leave and would be back at work within days, but it transpires that he was suspended, pending an investigation into misconduct and was subsequently fired.
Informanté has it on record that two other employees received written warnings over misconduct and another resigned voluntarily..