Progress in state capture inquiry, says Madonsela
OUTGOING Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is making headway in her investigation into state capture and is working with the Presidency to chart how acting ministerial appointments are made.
Madonsela said on Tuesday there were no Cabinet minutes on acting ministerial appointments as the president picked stand-ins, but she was getting help from the Presidency to collect information on how President Jacob Zuma made such decisions.
The public protector had subpoenaed the secretary to the Cabinet for minutes of meetings that took place from November 2015 to April 2016 as part of the investigation.
Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said the Cabinet would comply with the process.
Madonsela said she would release a report, “in whatever form”, before leaving office. “We are being helped by the Presidency. The issue was to get the correct information,” she said.
However, Madonsela would not be drawn into disclosing more information about the investigation and declined to comment when asked if she had interviewed current Cabinet ministers as part of the probe.
Madonsela said she had started the investigation after receiving two complaints on state capture from the Dominican Order of Catholic priests and a member of Parliament.
The latter had compelled her to investigate the allegations under the Executive Members Act — the same act which empowered her to institute her landmark investigation on nonsecurity upgrades at the president’s private residence at Nkandla.
Madonsela said that fears over her investigation into state capture were at the heart of fresh allegations that she was a CIA spy.
The ANC’s own investigation into state capture came to naught even though Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas went on record saying the Gupta family, who are close to Zuma, had offered him Nhlanhla Nene’s job. Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also alleged that one of the Gupta brothers had offered her a Cabinet post and former government spokesman Themba Maseko said the Guptas had tried to exert pressure on him to direct state advertising to their businesses.
The Guptas have denied acting untowardly and have said the allegations surrounding the family constitute a sustained campaigning against its members. They also challenged their accusers to provide evidence.
Madonsela said people tended to light a fire behind her back every time she was conducting investigations they were not happy with. “There is a schizophrenia that is taking place around all manner of accusations, that is trying to distract me and my team from our work. Please know that we will not be distracted.”
Her office would continue to act without fear or favour. “If you don’t do anything wrong then the report will vindicate you,” she said.