Fresh probe into politicians’ links to dairy scandal
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane appears to have succumbed to pressure from MPs by confirming that she will launch a new investigation into the role played by politicians in the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy farm project. However, she has defended her decision to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the R1m personal costs order related to the Absa-Bankorp case.
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane appears to have succumbed to pressure from MPs by confirming that she will launch a new investigation into the role played by politicians in the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy farm project.
However, she has defended her decision to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the R1m personal costs order related to the AbsaBankorp case.
Appearing before Parliament’s justice committee on Tuesday to discuss her office’s performance plan and budget, Mkhwebane told the MPs that the public protector needed their support “to perform my functions without fear or favour and prejudice”.
“Such a judgment on personal costs [will have an impact] on the independence of the public protector and instils fear, stifling her from doing her work.”
Mkhwebane sought to emphasise that her office lacked capacity and needed more funding. Her office was so stretched that it had requested assistance from other government departments, including the state security agency, she said
MPs described this as a major concern as the office of the public protector handled sensitive information from whistle-blowers.
MPs grilled her on a number of issues, including her fitness to hold office, the handling of the Absa-Bankorp case and the Vrede dairy farm project.
“Is it not a matter of concern to you that the Hawks are running ahead of you, raiding the offices of the premiers in the North West and in the Free State when you have had an opportunity to look into what is happening in those provincial governments as part of your responsibility to support democracy?” portfolio committee chairman Mathole Motshekga asked her.
Mkhwebane said law enforcement agencies were generally more capacitated, hence they could act faster. However, her office would launch a fresh probe into the role of politicians in the Vrede dairy farm scandal, she said.
“The file will be opened and the matter [of the role of politicians] will be investigated.”
In February, the public protector released her report on the Free State dairy project. It concluded that there were procurement irregularities, gross negligence and maladministration related to the project. As part of the remedial action, she recommended that then Free State premier Ace Magashule should “institute disciplinary action against all implicated officials involved in the dairy project”.
In February, the DA said it would take the report on review, as there had been no effort to investigate the true extent of corruption and to hold those responsible accountable.