POLITICS

PSC says it will investigate ANC abuse of food parcels during by-elections - Andricus van der Westhuizen

DA MP says this is as ANC MP Mervyn Dirks declared that his party would continue with this practice

Public Service Commission to investigate alleged food parcel scandal

11 September 2014

The DA welcomes the undertaking by the Public Service Commission (PSC) today that it will investigate the alleged abuse of the public service by the ANC to distribute food parcels in the run-up to by-elections.

This undertaking was made yesterday by Michael Seloane, a commissioner of the PSC, after a presentation by the Public Service Commission to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration. 

The importance of this investigation has been emphasized by the shocking and incriminating remarks of Mervyn Dirks MP (an ANC member of the committee), during the same meeting. Dirks publicly declared in the committee that the ANC will be continuing with this practice, irrespective of what others may think. 

Section 195 (1) in the Constitution require public services to be rendered impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias. The targeted distribution of food parcels by the public service in areas where the ruling party is in fear of the outcome of by-elections would constitute a transgression of the requirements of the Constitution.  

It represents an abuse of state resources to shore up political support and it must be stopped.

The PSC has been established by the Constitution to protect the public service from party-political abuse. This investigation will also give the Public Service Commission an opportunity to demonstrate its independence and impartiality.

We will be monitoring the envisaged investigation closely and we will lend the PSC all the support it may need to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into these allegations.

Statement issued by Andricus van der Westhuizen MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, September 11 2014

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