Hold them to account
PARLIAMENTARY committees set up to probe fraud, corruption, maladministration and other forms of malfeasance cost the South African taxpayer money. We therefore expect to get value, instead of committees pandering to arrogant, self-serving people like Dudu Myeni, who ignore “invitations” to appear and testify. Such polite invitations are easily turned down. In Myeni’s case, it was – first – because she had not appointed a lawyer to advise her on the implications of testifying, and then because she was ill, even though no doctor’s sick note was submitted to the committee.
All such committees should include a judge, preferably as chairman, and the pertinent laws amended to give it the authority to summon those concerned to testify. Failure to appear without a valid reason should enable the judge to issue a warrant of arrest.
Allowing people to get away without testifying, based on flimsy excuses, means the committee’s findings will be incomplete, rendering the millions spent on the hearings fruitless.
Myeni’s actions are a display of arrogance and a complete lack of accountability to the people of South Africa for her part in the looting of the public purse. This is proved by the fact she was spotted drinking in a Pretoria hotel, just hours after she was due to testify before the committee.
On the other hand, we were treated to the testimony of former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba, which amounted to: “I did not know what was going on. I did not approve tenders; that was the job of the director-general. I am not to blame for the collective fiasco that is the condition of the state-owned enterprises; someone else is responsible.”
Poor Gigaba said it had been “disheartening and shocking” to learn that some of those he had appointed while public enterprises minister appeared to have abused their positions to influence the awarding of tenders. In each case, the individuals had been highly recommended and appeared to have the credentials and expertise required.
It is difficult to accept the sheer number of poor appointments was coincidental, especially given the subsequent developments.
Any other person in Gigaba’s position would immediately resign as minister of home affairs but given the sad lack of embarrassment and contrition displayed, it would be expecting too much of him to take responsibility and do the honourable thing.