The Congress of the People welcomes the ruling by the Public Protector finding Siphiwe Nyanda guilty of breaching the code on executive ethics. At the same time, COPE condemns the lack of any sanction by the body. We question whether the public protector is in fact nothing more than a toothless wonder.

As COPE brought this complaint in the first place, we feel vindicated that this ruling was returned. However given the serious nature of the charges that Minister Nyanda has been found guilty of, to not have any sanction is the equivalent of condoning corruption and cronyism.

The very least that should happen in this instance is the R18 Million should be put back into state coffers by Nyanda and his business partners.

R18 Million can buy you a lot of friends, but it can never buy integrity and credibility. COPE will look into other options to return this mismanaged money back into the treasury, and to seek sanction of Minister Nyanda.

COPE also notes the clear contradiction in this role of the Public Protector, which applies no sanction at all and that of the proposed Media Tribunal, proposed by the ANC. Journalists, for doing their job are to be sanctioned, yet politicians who are corrupt, get a slap on the wrist. Clearly this double standard cannot be allowed to prevail.

Statement issued by Phillip Dexte, COPE head of communications, July 26 2010

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