The police have opened an inquest into the death of ANC MP Tina Joemat-Pettersson, who died on 5 June at her home in Cape Town, a week after she was named as one of the people who tried to extort money from suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. It was not clear at the time what she died from.

INQUEST OPENED

In a short statement, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said an inquest docket has been registered and is under investigation. "An autopsy report has been finalised, we are awaiting a final report from the Department of Health on the cause of death," Mathe said.

NO BASIS FOR SUSPICION AROUND HER DEATH

After Joemat-Peterrsson’s passing, ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, told the media that the ruling party would await the medical reports instead and that they would not be focusing on speculation on her passing. She said they had no basis for any suspicions around her death. "We are treating them as rumours, just rumours, because we can’t give legs to something that has not been collaborated by medical evidence. From where we are sitting, she has left this world and like any other human who passes on, you have to allow professionals to do the work that they need to do. If there is anything untoward, I am sure they will unearth that and that will be the basis for a more fact-based commentary. We can’t make any speculation and we can’t join the social media frenzy based on rumours or speculation. We are a very responsible party," she added.

FINGERED IN EXTORTION CONTROVERSY

Joemat-Pettersson was named as one of the three ANC MPs who allegedly tried to extort money from suspended Mkhwebane’s husband to make the Section 194 inquiry, probing Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, go away. Mkhwebane’s husband Mandla Skhosana opened a criminal case at OR Tambo International Airport police station alleging that Joemat-Pettersson; ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina and the chairperson of Section 194 Richard Dyantyi, solicited a bribe from him. To support her claims of bribery and corruption within Parliament’s Section 194 Enquiry, Mkhwebane released implicating audio recordings of the late Joemat-Pettersson, in conversation with Skhosana. During a press conference last week Tuesday, Mkhwebane told the media that the damning audio recordings and text messages have been handed over to the Hawks. "I am in possession of two audio recordings and more than 90 WhatsApp messages between my husband and Joemat-Pettersson," she said.