DA to submit PAIA request for contracts related to DIRCO’s multi-million New York property
19 February 2021
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to access all relevant documents related to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) controversial R118 million New York Pilot Project in order to ascertain all details, including everyone involved in the procurement and approval of the property.
On Wednesday morning the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation unanimously decided to distance itself from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor’s unilateral decision to suspend the Director-General (DG) of DIRCO Kgabo Mahoai. This was done in absence of the Minister who did not deign to appear before the committee after she was summoned to explain her decision, which members of the committee had to read about in the media.
The Minister needs to explain why she used the DG as a lone scapegoat and chose to ignore the involvement of other senior officials in the procurement process of the New York Pilot Project. Why were Ambassador Jerry Matjila, the then DG of DIRCO and the current DIRCO CFO, Caphais Ramashaeo, not suspended as well?
We are also concerned by the fact that there has been no Executive accountability, particularly against Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the DIRCO Minister at the time.