SJC CALLS ON PUBLIC PROTECTOR TO RELEASE GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO FINDINGS ON SAPS LEASING AGREEMENTS

Context

During February and July 2011, the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, issued two reports respectively titled Against the Rules and Against the Rules Too.

These reports issued findings on the investigated alleged irregularities relating to the procurement and leasing of two buildings for new South African Police Service (SAPS) offices.

Both reports found that SAPS and the Department of Public Works (DPW) did not comply with, ‘Section 217 of the Constitution, the relevant provision of the PFMA, Treasury Regulations and supply chain management rules and policies'.

Despite the fact that both reports found a number of high-ranking government officials to have broken or flouted various laws and regulations, we are not aware of any action being taken against them nor has there been any action taken by President Jacob Zuma. In fact, the national Police Commisioner, Bheki Cele, and the Minister of Public Works, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde have continued in their respective posts.

For this reason, on 16 September 2011, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) wrote to the Office of the Public Protector requesting reports submitted by government departments/Ministers on matters relating to the SAPS leasing agreements be made public.

SJC Interest and Involvement

The SJC is a community-based movement working in the informal settlements of Khayelitsha. Our work focuses on government accountability and transparency. Our work is underpinned by a desire to ensure that the values of, and the rights contained in the Constitution are upheld, protected and defended^[i]. One of our primary campaigns focuses on reducing crime in the communities in which we work. We believe that in order to ensure that all citizens act in accordance with the law, our leaders must do the same.

The SJC's Request for Information from the Public Protector

In the two Public Protector reports referred to above, remedial action and monitoring are set out. In particular:

1. Several departments have had to and must in future also submit Action Plans and/or Quarterly Reports to the Public Protector - these departments are the National Treasury, the DPW, SAPS, the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Police and the Minister of Public Service and Administration

2. In addition, a Report to Cabinet was supposed to have been submitted by the Minister of Public Works on 14 September 2011.

We are of the view that as at 19 September 2011, a total of 17 documents should have been submitted to the Public Protector by the National Treasury, DPW, SAPS as well as by the Ministers of Public Works and Police.

We are of the view that it is in the public interest that all of these documents should be made public. (i.e. the Action Plans, Quarterly Reports and Cabinet Report).

We have therefore written to the Public Protector and have asked for clarification on:

1. Which Action Plans/Reports have already been submitted and by which Minister/Department;

2. Which, if any, of the Action Plans/Reports have not been submitted as yet; 

3. How the Public Protector plans to convey the information to the public.

Summary

We believe that the Public Protector has the requisite mandate and ability to deal with this matter and that her actions are characterised by transparency and a genuine effort to uncover the truth.

Therefore, given the role that the Office of the Public Protector has and continues to play in upholding the values and principles of the Constitution in this matter, we are confident that her office will make the information available to the public - as without the information, the public will not be able to exercise a number of their rights contained in our Constitution.

To view the full letter and annexures submitted to the Public Protector on 21 September 2011, visit http://www.sjc.org.za/posts/public-protector-must-release-government-responses-to-findings-on-saps-leasing-agreements.

Statement issued by Joel Bregman, Social Justice Coalition, September 21 2011

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