Nkandlagate: Cabinet must answer for interference in Public Protector's investigation

Reports today that members of the national executive summoned the Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to a meeting to convince her to drop her investigation, raise serious concerns about the lengths that President Jacob Zuma and his ministers will go to hide the truth about the Nkandlagate scandal (see Sunday Times report). 

Chapter 9 institutions such as the Public Protector's office are meant to be protected from political interference. The Public Protector is appointed by Parliament and subject only to the Constitution and the law. The allegation that members of the executive attempted improperly to interfere with her work is a very serious one, which deserves a full explanation. 

Not only are these alleged actions unethical, but they make all Ministers who participated in this series of ‘meetings' complicit in the Nkandlagate scandal and its cover-up.

I will be posing parliamentary questions to Minister Nxesi, Minister Mthethwa, Minister Cwele, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister Radebe, to ascertain whether it is true that they attempted to strong-arm Adv. Madonsela into dropping her investigation. Ministers are bound by Parliamentary Rules which prevent them from misleading the House in this regard. 

The DA will monitor this matter closely to ensure that the Public Protector's report and her recommendations are completed without undue interference. No amount of political influence should stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this R200 million abuse of public money. 

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, September 8 2013

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