POLITICS

Mushwana should resign as SAHRC chairperson - AfriForum

Alana Bailey calls on Public Protector to reinvestigate Oilgate, following SCA ruling

AFRIFORUM ASKS: MUSHWANA MUST RESIGN AS HRC CHAIRPERSON AND PP MUST RE-INVESTIGATE OILGATE

The civil rights initiative AfriForum has asked that Adv Lawrence Mushwana should resign as Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) in reaction to the damning finding of the Supreme Court of Appeals that the investigation of the Public Protector (PP) - then Adv Mushwana - into the Oilgate scandal, had been so half-hearted and superficial, that in effect no investigation had been made at all.

Five of the judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals agreed that the PP's report on the so-called investigation should be overturned as no investigation had taken place.

AfriForum will also ask the current PP, Adv Thuli Madonsela, to launch a new investigation into Oilgate. The Oilgate scandal came to light after revelations made by the Mail & Guardian regarding a payment of R11 million from State funds made by the petrol company Imvume Holdings to the ANC shortly before the elections of 2004. The money was part of a payment of R15 million claimed by Imvume from PetroSA.

According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, the fact that Adv Mushwana in his capacity as PP had evidently protected the ANC, raises serious questions about the impartiality of the HRC.

"In the past AfriForum had lodged several complaints with the HRC which have not received any attention at all. This already creates doubts about the objectivity and the functionality of the HRC," Bailey said. "The finding of the Supreme Court of Appeals once again illustrates how institutions which are constitutionally obliged to protect and serve the total South African community, thereby promoting democracy, are immobilised by the cadre redeployment of the ANC."

AfriForum will refer the case back to the PP. According to Bailey this will be a test to determine whether the PP has, since the departure of Mushwana, indeed started functioning as a protector of the public, or whether it still protects the interests of the ANC only.

Statement issued by Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO: AfriForum, June 2 2011

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