TODAY'S MEETING THE PARLIAMENTARY AD HOC COMMITTEE
26 September 2014
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip reaffirms the original mandate of the parliamentary ad hoc committee set up to consider the report of the President in response to reports of various institutions on their investigations into the Nkandla security upgrades. In considering the reports, the ad hoc committee was expected to conduct a qualitative interrogation, robust analysis and thorough appraisement of the reports and formulate an opinion for the National Assembly's consideration.
The committee was neither called to re-investigate nor to review the findings of the reports. As we have repeatedly stated, all the reports comprehensively uncovers deep-seated maladministration, cost inflation and general corruption in the installation of security upgrades at the President's private residence. Indeed all parties in the committee agree that those responsible must face the full might of the law. In this regard, the Special Investigative Unit report paints a commendable picture that steps are underway to recoup the wasted funds and prosecute those responsible.
It remains the view of the ANC that all reports before the committee provide sufficient information to enable Parliament to form an opinion. While the committee is empowered in terms of the rules to summon individuals to appear before it for questioning, this would have meant a rehash of the investigation which would have warranted an alteration of the findings of the reports.
Were individuals mentioned in the reports called to testify before the committee, a legitimate expectation would have been created that their testimonies, which may either agree or materially contest the reports, should be taken into account when the committee reports. This would have unavoidably compelled Parliament to review the reports, which is in conflict with the institution's constitutional powers. In this regard, the ANC cautioned against opening the re-investigation process that would have thrown the institution into a legally untenable situation.