Mthethwa must table full list of National Key Points in Parliament 

The stand-in Minister of Police, Siyabonga Cwele, has refused access to the list of National Key Points citing security concerns. It is vital that this list is provided to the Portfolio Committee on Police so that Members of Parliament may conduct their mandated oversight role and hold the government accountable. 

To date, National Key Points, dealt with under Apartheid-era legislation, have not been scrutinised by the portfolio committee, despite a budget being made available for their protection. We know that the money is being used and personnel are being paid but we cannot hold government accountable for the use of this money unless we are given the full details. 

This includes the exorbitant expenditure of R206-million on President Zuma's private residence in Nkandla, which includes a number of non-security related expenses. Why a person's private residence has been declared a "National Key Point" has never been explained, nor has the exorbitant expenditure on that private residence.

The 2013/2014 SAPS budget indicates that there will be 197 national key points by 2015/16, an increase of 15 from 2012/13. The National Key Points fall under the Police budget line item Government Security Regulator which will receive R91.5 million this year.

In terms of section 56 (a) of the Constitution and rule 138 of the National Assembly, the National Assembly or any of its committees may summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents.

I will therefore request at the next meeting of the portfolio committee that Minister Mthethwa be summoned to the committee to produce the list of national key points. 

The government can no longer hide this list from scrutiny behind this unconstitutional, apartheid-era legislation. 

The DA will do everything possible to ensure that the Minister of Police is held to account for these expenses. Anything less would be to undermine Parliament's powers to hold the executive to account.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, March 11 2013

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