Classification of the Nkandla Task Team Report

5 Jul 2013

The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, has noted with concern the media reports and questions insinuating or suggesting that the Minister Nxesi misled Parliament and the public that the Task Team Report was classified by the Minister of State Security, Mr Cwele.

The Minister wishes to set the record straight that he has never said that the Minister of State Security Dr Siyabonga Cwele classified the Task Team report on Nkandla. In line with a written reply to a Parliamentary question by the DA, we reiterate that the Minister of Public Works classified the report in terms of the Minimum Information Security Standard ("MISS"). This was done after an extensive consultation with all the relevant stakeholders involved in this matter. The classification was done in line with a Cabinet approved policy on the protection of information that is exempted from disclosure.

The report deals with sensitive security issues relating to the security upgrades at the private residence of the President that were effected after the security assessments by the security cluster departments.

Therefore the allegations that the Minister of Public Works misled Parliament or the public are unfounded and incorrect. Contrary to the spurious allegations that the classification of the report was to cover up corruption and in line with the principle of transparency, the Minister of Public Works met with the Public Protector today and made the Task Team report available to the Public Protector.

Statement issued by Mr Phillip Masilo, Legal Advisor to the Minister of Public Works, July 5 2013

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