Pretoria - Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi says the Democratic Alliance’s court bid for the report on the security upgrade of President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home is a means to score political points.
“Once again, the DA is desperately trying to score party political points over the Nkandla security upgrade. [They’re] now trying their luck in the courts. I have said that on matters of the President’s security, I will not play politics.
“At the same time, I have also said that public officials must be held accountable for the use of public funds. Hence, I established a task team to look into the Nkandla security upgrade,” he said.
On Monday, the DA’s parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, approached the Western Cape High Court for an order overturning Nxesi's decision to classify the task team’s report.
In January, Nxesi released the findings of the task team report, which ascertained that there were indeed irregularities in the procurement processes for the security upgrade.
Nxesi said the DA has known about the report since January.
“The DA is taking me to court on an urgent basis, yet it knew about the existence of the report since January this year.
“The DA knows that the report was tabled before the Joint Standing Committee of Intelligence for consideration. They know that the Public Protector has full access to the report and will be releasing her own report shortly,” said Nxesi.
In the report, the task team recommended further investigations take place by the appropriate authorities, such as the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and the Auditor-General.
The task team said should they find unlawful wrong-doing, law enforcement agencies must ensure that the culprits face the full might of the law.
Nxesi said when the Joint Standing Committee for Intelligence (JSCI) completes its work, it will give guidance on the process by which the report should be debated in Parliament and later released to the public.
On 31 July, the task team report was presented to the JSCI – a multi-party committee which includes representatives of the opposition parties including the DA.
“The DA is well aware that the Public Protector is conducting her investigations into the security upgrade – partly at their request.
“As the Department of Public Works, we have cooperated fully with her office, handing over all the necessary documents that are required for her investigations,” Nxesi said.
The Public Protector has announced the imminent release of her report.
“To show that the DA has a political agenda, in court papers, the applicant Lindiwe Mazibuko has cited President Jacob Zuma as a third respondent. Yet, she concedes that she does not seek any relief against the President,” said Nxesi.
The minister said in her affidavit, Mazibuko claims that the “Nkandla report should be placed in the public domain in order for the electorate to make responsible choices in the forthcoming general elections”.
Nxesi said this showed that the crux of the application was a means to score “political points” by the DA. - SAnews.gov.za
