DA lays complaint against Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba with Public Protector

The Democratic Alliance has today laid a formal complaint with the Public Protector requesting that she investigate Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba for lying under oath during court proceedings and violating the Constitution during his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs.

In a court judgment only recently made available to the public, a full bench of the High Court in Pretoria in the matter of Fireblade Aviation (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Home Affairs Case No: 85376-2016/93450-2016, made a number of damning findings against Minister Gigaba.

The judgment was the result of an application by a private company who sought a declaratory order to compel the Minister to abide by a decision he had taken to allow the company to run a customs and immigration service at a privately owned airport operation. At the time, it was alleged that Minister Gigaba revoked the approval he initially granted following pressure from the Gupta family.

In the judgment, Minister Gigaba was found to have “…deliberately told untruths under oath”. Furthermore, his decisions and conduct in the matter were found to be so far out of step with the law that Judge Tuchten concluded that “…the Minister has committed a breach of the Constitution so serious that I could characterize it as a violation”.

These findings are unequivocal and form the basis of the DA’s complaint to the Public Protector to investigate Minister Gigaba for his breaches of the Constitution, the Executive Members Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.

In light of this judgment and the DA’s complaint, the ANC should now be compelled to act against Minister Gigaba if indeed they are a “renewed” organisation. This is the true test for President Cyril Ramaphosa and his party - steps must be taken to remove Minister Gigaba as a matter of urgency. The ANC must prove to the South African people that they are serious about taking action against yet another one of their colleagues who has been found to have violated the Constitution for the benefit of the Gupta family. Should they fail to act, it would amount to a serious indictment on the ANC under President Ramaphosa’s leadership.

While the DA has indeed called for Adv Mkhwebane to be removed following a court finding against her for incompetence and misconduct, we nevertheless have faith in the institution of the Office of the Public Protector to conduct this investigation into Minister Gigaba in accordance with its constitutional mandate. The DA will continue to do all in its power to ensure that Minister Gigaba is held directly accountable for undermining the country’s laws in this disgraceful manner.

Text of the letter:

The Public Protector

Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane

175 Lunnon Street

Hillcrest Office Park

Pretoria

0083

Dear Adv. Mkhwebane,

REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO MINISTER MALUSI GIGABA

I am writing to you in order to request an urgent investigation by the Office of the Public Protector into the alleged breach of the Constitution, the Executive Members Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code by the Minister of Finance, Mr Malusi Gigaba.

Background

On 14 December 2017, the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa delivered judgment in the matter of Fireblade Aviation (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Home Affairs Case No: 85376-2016/93450-2016. The judgment was the result of an application by a private company who sought a declaratory order to compel the Minister to abide by a decision he had taken to grant the company’s application to operate a fixed base aviation operation at the Oliver R Tambo International Airport. Specifically, it concerned certain decisions by and conduct of Minister Gigaba during his tenure as the Minister of Home Affairs.

In this regard, it is essential that I draw your attention to a number of the courts most serious findings against the Minister. Judge Tuchten firstly held that:

“…there is no escaping the conclusion that… the Minister has deliberately told untruths under oath” (my emphasis)

However, he also finds as follows:

“The Minister is bound by section 96(2)(b) of the Constitution, not to act in any way that is inconsistent with his office. He is further bound by section 165(4) of the Constitution as an organ of State to assist and protect the court to ensure its effectiveness. By telling a deliberate untruth on facts central to the decision of this case, the Minister has committed a breach of the Constitution so serious that I could characterize it as a violation.” (my emphasis)

The judge then goes on to state:

“A violation by the Constitution by a high officer in the Executive, fundamental to the decision of a court case, is an exceptional circumstance… I say that because it is such a departure from the standards which the Constitution enjoins be applied in this country that it constitutes something exceptional.” (my emphasis)

These findings require no further explanation and they amount to nothing less than unequivocal proof that the Minister has not only lied under oath but also acted in breach of his constitutional duties.

Basis for Investigation

Section 182 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that the Public Protector has the power:

“to investigate any conduct in state affairs, or in the public administration in any sphere of government, that is alleged or suspected to be improper or to result in any impropriety or prejudice.”

Section 96 of the Constitution states that 96(1) Members of the Cabinet and Deputy Ministers must act in accordance with a code of ethics prescribed by national legislation. (2) Members of the Cabinet and Deputy Ministers may not— (b) act in any way that is inconsistent with their office, or expose themselves to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities and private interests;

Section 3(1) of the Executive Members Ethics Act 82 of 1998 requires the Public Protector to investigate any alleged breach of the code of ethics on receipt of a complaint. Section 3(2) of the Act requires the Public Protector to submit a report on the alleged breach of the code of ethics within 30 days after receipt of a complaint. Section 4 of the Act states that the Public Protector must investigate, in accordance with section 3, an alleged breach of the code of ethics on receipt of a complaint by (a) the President, a member of the National Assembly or a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces, if the complaint is against a Cabinet member or Deputy Minister.

Section 4 confirms that the Public Protector may also consider complaints about such breaches from ordinary members of the public.

Section 2.1 of the Executive Ethics Code states that: 2.1. Members must, to the satisfaction of the President or the Premier as the case may be (a) perform their duties and exercise their powers diligently and honestly; (b) fulfil all the obligations imposed upon them by the Constitution and law;

(c) act in good faith and in the best interest of good governance; and (d) act in all respects in a manner that is consistent with the integrity of their office or the government.

Section 2.3 of the Executive Ethics Code further states that Members may not: (a) Deliberately or inadvertently mislead the President, or the Premier or, as the case may be; the legislature; (b) act in a way that is inconsistent with their position.

Request for Investigation

In light of the abovementioned facts and the relevant legal basis outlined, I therefore submit this request to your office to investigate Minister Gigaba for alleged breaches of the aforementioned legislation as well as the Executive Ethics Code and to extend your investigation to probe for any other laws that the Minister’s actions may have contravened in this matter.

For your ease of reference, I will attach hereto the judgment in the matter of Fireblade Aviation (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Home Affairs Case No: 85376-2016/93450-2016 which I referred to above.

I look forward to your consideration of this request and your favourable response.

Yours faithfully,

John Steenhuisen MP
Chief Whip of the Official Opposition
Parliament of RSA

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, 21 February 2018