PRESIDENT NOT PASSING THE BUCK

The statement by the Democratic Alliance alleging that President Jacob Zuma's decision to update Parliament on the process of acting on the recommendations of the Public Protector was tantamount to passing the buck is, as with countless other statements from party parliamentary spokespeople, unhelpful and poorly thought through.

It is deplorable that a party that regards itself as the leading opposition force in parliament finds itself from time to time unable to restrain itself from statements that are unnecessarily speculative and factually groundless. It is a tactless propaganda that regrettably does little to enhance quality public discourse on critical matters affecting our nation.

The President, as with the Executive he heads, is accountable to Parliament in line with the Constitution. It is for this reason that he saw it necessary that he updates the institution on the work he has undertaken thus far with regard to the recommendations submitted to his office by the Public Protector. By so doing, the President sought to keep the institution, which is the foremost representative of the people, abreast of the progress.

There is nowhere in the report where the President asks the institution to take action on his behalf, as implied by the DA.

We welcome and appreciate the President's decision in this regard and look forward to the conclusion of the process. The President should be allowed to continue with his work on this matter without distraction from sideshows and circuses.

We dismiss with the deserved contempt the DA's ill-advised utterances.

Statement issued by Moloto Mothapo, Office of the ANC Chief Whip, ANC Parliamentary Caucus, Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, August 11 2011

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