Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee: Operation Protect Zuma
30 September 2014
Today the Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee proceeds, with only the ANC members sitting to whitewash the accountability of President Jacob Zuma, after the Opposition collectively walked out of the Committee last week.
We refuse to partake in a process that sets out to undermine the Constitution, and where the ANC uses its majority to evade holding President Zuma to account for the R246 million Nkandla upgrades, which were marked by inflated costs, the flouting of procurement regulations and the undue enrichment of President Zuma.
Without the participation of the Opposition, the ANC's Luthuli House deployees will continue to play judge and jury in a process which will shield the President from any form of accountability. The ANC has been intent from day-one of the Nkandla Committee on making not a single concession, or reaching a single agreement, other than to shield President Zuma.
The ANC in the Committee has already used its majority to undermine the oversight role of Parliament. The ANC forcedly pushed through that there was no need for President Zuma to appear before the Committee.
The ANC also blocked the Public Protector from appearing before the Committee to explain the rationale behind the remedial actions she ordered in her Secure in Comfort Nkandla report. These remedial actions are clearly binding on the President, and the only logical next step is for them to be implemented.
Given the direction that the ANC has already taken in the Committee, there is only one possible destination; the ANC members left in the Committee will ensure that government officials are hung out to dry, and the President will face no responsibility.
Knowing that this was the clear plan of the ANC, and knowing that the ANC had a majority of members on the Committee, the Opposition could not in good conscience continue to participate in this whitewash.
In the interim, we are awaiting the Western Cape High Court judgement, in the DA v SABC in re: the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng matter, where Judge Ashton Schippers will make a legal ruling on whether remedial action of the Public Protector is binding and enforceable. The outcome of that case will have great bearing on how we proceed on the Nkandla matter.
For too long President Zuma has dodged and disregarded any form of responsibility for his actions. But rest assured, the battle for accountability at Nkandla has only just begun.
Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, September 30 2014
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