CLAIMS REGARDING PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE GUPTA INFLUENCE BASELESS

The DA Chief Whip's ridiculous claims in the media that ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu has agreed to the DA's opportunistic proposal for Parliament to institute an investigation into the alleged state influence by the Gupta family are imaginary and baseless. When asked by various media houses following his appointment whether the ANC would support a parliamentary debate on the allegations surrounding the Guptas, the ANC Chief Whip stressed that, as a general principle, Parliament as  a forum for public debates should never quash multiparty debates. However, each proposed debate should be subjected to the established parliamentary process for consideration and a decision by all parties.

Only a delusional misapprehension would interpret this clear assertion (on parliamentary debates) to mean the ANC Chief Whip supports the DA's proposal for a "parliamentary investigation" into alleged state influence by the Gupta family. The DA's proposed motion on the same subject, brought under the name of its leader Mmusi Maimane, was rejected earlier this month in the National Assembly.

Further, the allegations relating to the so-called 'state capture' are before some state institutions, such as the Hawks and the Public Protector, following requests for investigations by certain formations and individuals. Parliament should not find itself in a situation where it is conducting parallel investigations.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, 28 March 2016