The IFP today asked the Auditor-General to conduct an investigation into allegations that Petro SA gave a black economic empowerment company, Imvume, R15 million in December 2003 to supply it with oil, of which Imvume secretly forwarded about R11 million to the ANC before last year's election.

Last Friday, the Mail & Guardian was interdicted by Imvume from publishing further allegations. Similarly, the DA's attempts to call state oil company Petro SA before the respective parliamentary committee were thwarted by the committee's ANC chairperson.

Mr Peter Smith MP in a letter to the Auditor-General, in terms of section 5(1) (d) of the Public Audit Act no 25 of 2004, requested that the Auditor-General's office carry out an appropriate investigation of the payment by Petro SA to Imvume, which was then apparently donated to the ANC.  Smith added that he believed that such an investigation would be in the public interest.

Smith also said:

"The IFP deplores the ruling party's blatant attempt to cover up an uncomfortable story."

"Similarly, the IFP raises eyebrows at the apparent overriding of freedom of expression, in this case championed by the Mail & Guardian newspaper, by the individual rights, as exercised by the Imvume company. "