ANC's response on Burgess matter undermines Parliament's credibility

ANC Chief Whip Mothole Motshekga this afternoon released a statement responding to the Democratic Alliance's (DA) call for the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI), Honourable Cecil Burgess, to be removed from his post.

It is quite clear from the ANC's handling of the Mdluli matter that the party has no appetite whatsoever for this saga to be interrogated by Parliament. Honourable Motshekga's statement underscores just how reluctant the ANC is for anyone linked to this scandal to be held accountable.

I have this week written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Chairperson of the NCOP, to request that Honourable Burgess be suspended. Prior to this, I also wrote to the Speaker to request a special report into the oversight performance of the JSCI on the Mdluli matter.

The DA's request for Honourable Burgess' suspension followed a report by Hawks detective Colonel Kobus Roelofse which indicates potential interference by Honourable Burgess in the investigation of Crime Intelligence Boss Richard Mdluli and its finance head Solly Lazarus.

Honourable Burgess' conduct could have potentially compromised national security. His position as head of the JSCI, which is tasked with oversight over the executive and the intelligence services, is untenable. 

South Africans have the right to know that the heads of parliamentary committees are acting in the public interest alone.

Parliament has a responsibility to the South African people to fully interrogate the Mdluli matter. For the ANC to try and protect Honourable Burgess' position is direct attack on the credibility of this institution.

Statement issued by Watty Watson MP, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, May 24 2012

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