BY
Mr Narend Singh, MP
Honourable Chairperson,
The Inkatha Freedom Party withdrew from the first Ad Hoc Committee on Nkandla believing it to be a ‘sham’ and heavily biased in favour of the President, who was to be protected at all costs by the ruling party using majoritarianism as the final arbiter to effectively prevent any calls from the opposition parties of summonsing persons reasonably required to give evidence before the committee.
We agreed to participate in this Committee in the hope that the majority party would recant their ‘jaundiced’ view and support the fact that the Public Protector’s remedial action must be respected and upheld in respect of the non-security upgrades at Nkandla which were undertaken at taxpayers’ expense.
At the very least we were hopeful that the rule of audi alteram partem would be respected and that both the Public protector and the President would be called to appear before the committee and answer any questions of further clarity or fact finding. This was totally opposed by the ANC.
We now have a situation where the Public Protectors constitutionally mandated powers of remedial action have been the topic of heavy debate during this process, with no clear directive coming to light as yet, and in this regard we look forward the Supreme Court of Appeals upcoming ruling and definitive clarification on this matter .
However, turning to the Report tabled by the Minister of Police, as per the resolution of this House, the IFP must state that we emphatically and categorically reject the recommendations made by the Minister of Police which were supported by the majority Party in the Ad Hoc committee.
The Minister’s selective approach in his findings of what were security and non-security features, by only focussing on four items in the Public Protector’s report and conveniently choosing to ignore items in the SIU report, like the lifts and air-conditioning in the private residences etc, the list goes on and on… clearly show that Minister of Police went out of his way to find justification to clarify all items as related to security, notwithstanding the findings.
The IFP is still of the view that President Zuma has benefited to a large extent from non-security upgrades to his private residence and the Public Protector’s resolution that the President should pay for the portions he is liable for, must be upheld.
THE SIU STATED THAT: THE NKANDLA DEBACLE CLEARLY ENRICHED THE ZUMA FAMILY
We accept that poor workmanship at Nkandla was performed, the gross inflation of prices and the flouting of tender regulations and supply chain management principles; however this was all done under the careful watch of the current ANC government.
ELLIOT MAGUBANE – SUPPLIED SURVELLANCE MONTIORS AND CAMERAS- SWEARS HE IS VICTIM OF A SMEAR CAMPAIGN – AND PUBLICLY STATES THAT ALL EQUIPMENT HE INSTALLED IS WORKING PERFECTLY??
The taxpayer has been ripped-off and the Nkandla debacle is a slap in the face of good governance and accountability.
This is not about loyalty to one person, but rather loyalty to the taxpayer. Nkandla is a symptom of a bigger malaise affecting our society and goes to the heart of how taxpayers’ money is being abused and misused by this current government.
The Nkandla debacle will not go quietly into the night. At the heart of the issue is the undermining of our Constitutional Democracy and shows just how effectively the majority party can exercise their powers, even when are perceived publically to be wrong on issues. It strikes at the heart of this government’s adherence to Public Finance Act, its undue influence on who should receive tenders, who should become consultants and ‘passing the buck’.
The festering sore of Nkandla will grow and continue to haunt the ANC in years to come, long after the cows have come home, because chickens have already come home to roost.
This PARLIAMENT has been seized with this matter for years now – we should be debating issues of real import like economic growth, unemployment, education and land, yet we are seized with this matter which is in reality, HOW this government operates. NKANDLA is a microcosmic representation of how the ANC runs this country. It is a shame on them.
This HOUSE now has an opportunity, may I even say A RESPONSIBILITY to correct the harm done thus far and REJECT this report.
I thank you.
Hon. Narend Singh, MP
