Guptagate: Parliament and Public Protector must now investigate President Zuma

I will today take a number of immediate steps to ensure that President Zuma answers for fresh allegations, under oath, that he was directly involved in the ‘Guptagate' Scandal. The seriousness of these latest revelations not only brings into question the ethical conduct of the President who is now alleged to have abused public resources and institutions on the basis of personal relationships, but also indicates that he could have been part of a cover-up of significant proportions.

According to media reports today, Lt Colonel Christine Anderson submitted an affidavit admitting that on 17 April 2013 she received a call from Mr Koloane informing her that President Zuma wanted to know "if everything is still on track for the flight" (see Beeld report). This flies in the face of almost every denial which senior members of cabinet have issued since the saga broke earlier this year. These include:

The Minister of Justice, Jeff Radebe, who in the Snap debate on Guptagate, said: "The Director-General in the Presidency made it clear that no one in the Presidency ever gave any instruction in the conduct of Ambassador Koloane. This included the private office of the President."

The Minister in the Presidency for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane in response to a written question from DA MP David Maynier, asking whether there had been any communication from the President regarding the Gupta wedding, said that there had been "no official correspondence".

The JSCI Task Team report stated: "On 13 May 2013, the Director-General in The Presidency stated that at no point did the President give instructions to Ambassador Koloane or discuss the issue of the landing of the aircraft with him. Regarding the specific questions posed to him relating to the prearrival phase, he denied that The Presidency had ever received a request for landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base from any person whatsoever."

During an oral question session in the National Assembly, President Zuma himself dodged my question on what he planned to do to end the culture of "name dropping" by saying that his name was "dropped everywhere" and that it was human to have friends. Notably, he did not, when provided with the opportunity, deny having been involved in securing the landing rights.

This latest evidence is so clearly contradictory to the stated government position that the matter must be resolved through a full and proper investigation into, specifically, the President's conduct.

I will therefore act immediately to:

Table a draft resolution requesting the establishment of a special ad hoc committee, in terms of Rule 214(1), to investigate the conduct of President Zuma. Given the seriousness of the allegation it is in the interest of all parties represented in Parliament, including the Presidency, that this matter is fully investigated.

Submit, for oral response during the next President's Question Session this term, a question to President Zuma requesting that he clarify with full detail the extent of his communication and involvement to the Guptagate saga. 

Request that the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, now investigate President Zuma. Adv Madonsela had informed DA MP David Maynier, that this could not be done without evidence. The evidence now exists and her investigation should commence.

The integrity of the Office of the President is again at stake. As Members of Parliament, and in the public interest, we have a duty and moral responsibility to ensure that this matter is fully investigated, and that if there is wrong-doing by the President, that he is held accountable. If we fail to do so, it will establish a dangerous precedent in our democracy.

I trust that all parties represented in Parliament will view this request as an opportunity to finally resolve the matter of the involvement of President Zuma in the Guptagate scandal.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, October 3 2013

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