Public Protector's Findings: President should not be allowed to rewrite Constitution by stealth
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern two developments regarding the response of President Jacob Zuma and the Speaker of the National Assembly to the findings of the Public Protector's SAPS lease deals reports.
First, a letter tabled in Parliament sent by President Jacob Zuma to Speaker Max Sisulu strongly indicates that the President has no intention of holding either the Minister of Public Works, or the National Police Commissioner, accountable for the improper and unlawful conduct of which the Public Protector found them both guilty.
Secondly, reports that the Speaker has referred the Public Protector's reports to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) illustrates that the ANC is seeking to abuse parliamentary mechanisms to bury Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela's damming findings.
The Public Protector, as a Chapter Nine institution, reports annually to Parliament but its independence is enshrined in the Constitution. Therefore, neither the Speaker, nor Parliament, has a mandate to amend or alter the findings of the Public Protector's report in any way.
Comments reportedly made by SCOPA chair Themba Godi- that SCOPA would seek legal advice regarding its handling of the Public Protector's reports, including whether SCOPA had the right to debate and amend Adv Madonsela's findings and recommendations- expose the motivation that underlies the Speaker's decision to refer the report to this committee.