President Zuma must explain why there is no deadline for SIU and NPA appointments

In a reply to DA parliamentary question, President Zuma indicated that he will not provide a deadline for the appointments of two crucial positions within the justice system - the head of the Special Investigating Unit and the National Director of Public Prosecutions. He must explain his reasoning for the lack of a deadline and why it has taken so long to make these appointments.

This came shortly after the DA announced yesterday that we will table a Private Members Bill to remove the power to appoint and remove the head of the SIU from the presidency. We are doing this in the light of the fact that the President has still not filled the position of SIU head after 17 months, and the unit is clearly in disarray.

The President has been "busy" for seventeen months now, in respect of both the head of the SIU and the National Director of Public Prosecutions. How much longer does it take to find suitable people to occupy these positions? There is certainly no shortage of suitable people available.

The Justice Minister told us in August last year that the appointment of a new SIU head was "imminent". He then provided a deadline of the end of March. Then, he told us the same again at our portfolio committee at the beginning of this year.

In the President's State of the Nation address in February, he said that "To further boost the fight against corruption, we will fill all vacant posts at the upper echelons of the criminal justice system".

Well the only fight the President appears to be waging is the fight against corruption-busting institutions. After having abolished the Scorpions, he has set about destabilising the other crime-fighting bodies we have, in an effort to control them and protect himself and his associates from prosecution.

The fact that he is so unapologetic about this outrageous delay in filling these crucial positions speaks volumes. The President must give us reasons why he has not done so to date.

Statement issued by Debbie Schafer MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, May 23 2013

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