Dismiss dodgy defence adviser

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that the decision by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, to appoint Paul Ngobeni as her legal adviser was a major error of judgement and part of a pattern to provide jobs for the political friends of President Jacob Zuma.

The minister this morning confirmed that Paul Ngobeni had been appointed as her legal adviser and had been vetted by the intelligence services before being appointed in the Department of Defence.

Paul Ngobeni was until recently employed as the deputy registrar at the University of Cape Town, but parted ways after reaching an agreement following an internal disciplinary process.

Mr. Ngobeni was also reportedly suspended from the roll and may never practice law again after being found guilty of seven counts of misconduct in Connecticut in the United States.

Mr. Ngobeni is also reportedly a strong supporter of Judge John Hlophe and was a key figure in the strategy team which allowed President Jacob Zuma to beat corruption charges.

The fact is that Paul Ngobeni's record shows that he does not behave with the integrity that we expect from ordinary serving members of the Defence Force. We cannot have a situation where the legal adviser to the minister is not expected to meet the high level of integrity we expect from ordinary serving members of the defence force.

Moreover, how is it that, after with having been suspended from the roll and banned from practicing law in Connecticut in the United States after being found guilty of seven counts of misconduct, he received a security clearance?

The DA therefore calls on the minister to urgently review her decision and to dismiss Paul Ngobeni from the Department of Defence.

Statement issued by David Maynier, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of defence and military veterans, September 8 2009

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