DA submits PAIA application to obtain ‘Nkandlagate' classification records

I will be submitting a Promotion of Access to Information application today to the Department of Public Works in order to gain access to all documentation pertaining to the classification of the Public Works Task Team report into the R206 million upgrade of President Zuma's private home in Nkandla.

The Public Works Task Team Report into the scandal has allegedly been "classified" and therefore referred to the closed Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence for consideration. The DA has called on the Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, to clarify who classified this report and on what legal basis this was done. We have yet to receive any response - except for a very noticeable attempt to dodge the issue by the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Jeremy Cronin.

We now need answers. The revelation yesterday that the 8.9 hectares of land on which President Zuma's home is located is being rented at just R800 a month is further evidence of the need for all details relating to this scandal to be made public and for all those responsible for this abuse of public funds to be held accountable. This simply cannot be done behind closed doors.

More worryingly, it sets a dangerous precedent for the classification of all other reports that are released on this matter. According to the City Press expose yesterday, there is already growing concern over whether the complete report by the Public Protector will be made public. 

We cannot tolerate a situation where the government is allowed to bury reports that are meant to answer serious questions about how it is that over R200 million of public money was spent on one man's private home.

The DA will not stop fighting for the full report to be made public. All those responsible for this misuse of state funds must be brought to book. Anything less will be an affront to accountability and transparency. 

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, June 10 2013

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