By
Hon M B Gwala MPL
Madame Speaker, the KwaZulu-Natal Commissions Amendment Bill is as important as the implementation of the Bill in question. I say this because I am reminded that we often hear that commissions of enquiry will be set up and that’s where it ends. Whenever there is a serious issue that is in the public domain, we hear the Premier or the MEC saying in public “We will set up a commission of enquiry to investigate”. Then we wait for the report from that commission.
Very often no time frames are put in place and we do not get to know who makes up these commissions. Even on the rare occasion when a report is tabled, we do not see the recommendations being implemented as there is no follow through to ensure that recommendations are implemented. One such example is the report from the commission set up to investigate the deaths of candidates during the RTI recruitment process right here in Pietermaritzburg. That commission cost the tax payer R14,5million and the Premier had set his own deadline for the report to be tabled on 31 March 2014 but that date came and went without the much-anticipated report being tabled. That report was only released in July 2014. The commission had made certain recommendations but we are not aware whether those recommendations have been implemented.
We need to question why is that it takes so long for commission reports to be finalised? Is it that people are making money out of these commissions. I say this because that particular commission had spent almost R500 000 on providing food during its investigations. It was also reported that Department of Transport officials were very economical with the truth when they gave evidence to the commission. This then calls into question the credibility of the commission findings. Huge amounts of tax payer’s money is spent on commissions whose findings are not credible. Therefore, we question the process of setting up commissions and the manner in which they operate. We also question the follow through on the recommendations.
Madame Speaker, one would recall that President Zuma had called on the SIU to investigate the KZN Treasury regarding the funding of the Commemoration of the Prisoners of War at St Helena and the North Sea Jazz Festival that never happened. What has happened to these investigations and their findings. There are mass graves of commissions that have been set up and then died and were quietly buried. It would appear that this government talks of commissions of enquiry just to appease people and then forgets about them.
Speaking of mass graves, Madame Speaker one could ask what has become of the request from this government to President Zuma to set up a commission to investigate the mass graves that were discovered on a farm outside Dududu on the south coast. The Premier with a number of MECs and a host of people went to the grave site and made statements but has there been any progress on the matter?
Should this House not be kept informed of what is happening in that regard?
As Honourable Members in this House it is incumbent upon us to ensure that public funds are spent in the interest of the tax payer. We should not sit by while millions of rand are spent on commissions of enquiry that do not benefit our people. Such money should rather be used to provide essential services to our people.
Madame Speaker, I not in any way suggesting that certain issues should not be investigated, but those investigations must not be prolonged for such long periods of time and continue to incur more cos It is our duty to ensure that recommendations made by these commissions are implemented for the benefit of our people.
This Amendment Bill seeks to address some of the issues that I have raised especially with regard to costs and duration of commissions and it is the prayer of the IFP that the contents of the Bill are adhered to in the interest of the people of our province.
The IFP supports the KZN Commissions Amendment Bill 2015
I thank you,
Contact: Mr Blessed Gwala MPL, 078 290 5842
