Did the State Security Minister stop an investigation into the Gupta family?
I will submit a written parliamentary question probing whether the Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, intervened to stop an investigation into the "inappropriate influence" of the Gupta family.
Two years ago, former director-general of the State Security Agency's Domestic Branch, Gibson Njenje, reportedly ordered an investigation into the "inappropriate influence" of the Gupta family (see Daily Maverick report).
However, the Minister reportedly intervened to stop the SSA's investigation into the Gupta family.
This reportedly caused a massive fallout - referred to as the "spy wars" at the time - between the Minister and top management of the SSA.
The entire top management - SSA director-general Jeff Maqetuka, SSA domestic branch director-general Gibson Njenje and SSA foreign branch director-general Moe Shaik - eventually resigned.
If it is true that the Minister intervened, then it would be very difficult to conclude that he intervened for any other reason than to protect President Jacob Zuma.
The Minister would have known that any investigation into the "inappropriate influence" of the Gupta family would effectively have been an investigation into President Jacob Zuma himself.
We cannot be sure but had an investigation been conducted, the security breach at AFB Waterkloof, and the subsequent political fallout, may never have taken place.
We need to know whether it is true that the Minister intervened to stop an investigation into the Gupta family. And, if it is true we need to know why the Minister intervened to stop the investigation.
I will, therefore, submit a written parliamentary question probing whether the Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, intervened to stop an investigation into the "inappropriate influence" of the Gupta family.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, May 6 2013
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