DA to ask for Public Protector probe into DIRCO Minister's suspect security sponsorship
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, reportedly failed to include a R100 000 payment for security at her private home in Polokwane in her declaration of interests (see M&G report).
I will today be writing to the Public Protector to request that the Minister's possible breach of the Executive Ethics Code is investigated.
The Executive Ethics Code states that ministers "may not solicit or accept a gift or benefit which is in return for any benefit received from the member in the member's official capacity" and that "any gift with a value of more than R350" must be disclosed. Gifts with a value of more than R1000 may only be accepted with permission from the President.
Not only does it appear that the Minister transgressed the Code, but the payments made to the security company raise a number of questions.
The R103 856 tab for the Minister's security arrangements was picked up by Premier Fishing, a subsidiary of Sekunjalo Investments.
Premier Fishing director and Sekunjalo Investments' executive chairperson, Iqbal Survé, is a regular member of official business delegations accompanying President Jacob Zuma, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and other government leaders on overseas state visits.
Survé apparently accompanied Zuma and Minister Nkoana-Mashabane on a trip to China last year. Two months ago, Survé joined an ANC delegation at the United Nations in New York.
The only inference that can be drawn is that Survé was paying the Minister's security bill in return for places on prized trade delegations.
The Ethics Code is in place to help protect against Ministers' influence being bought. Ministers must at all times act in a way that promotes the interests of the South African people, not individuals or companies seeking to leverage state resources for personal gain.
The Public Protector needs to investigate why it appears that in this case the Minister has failed to do so.
Statement issued by Kenneth Mubu MP, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, November 25 2011
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