State capture inquiry requires funding

MEMBERS of Parliament will have to go to Speaker Baleka Mbete with cap in hand to ask for more money and an evidence leader to drive Parliament’s state capture inquiry.

Members of the portfolio committee on public enterprises gave the assurance yesterday that the money they require should not be compared with the billions of rand they want to recoup from the Guptas.

However, the committee would not say how much will be needed. They have appointed three senior MPs from different parties to meet with Mbete to outline the resources they need, including an evidence leader.

Acting chairperson of the committee, Zukiswa Rantho, said they need the evidence leader to provide technical expertise to the committee during the investigation.

The decision of the committee came after legal advisers from Parliament said in a legal opinion earlier, that to appoint an evidence leader from outside will be expensive.

Mondli Gungubele of the ANC said they need the money in order to recoup billions of rand.

“That cost benefit analysis, when people are investing billions and you refuse to deploy R1 million, is serious,” he said.

Nqaba Kwankwa of the UDM said they need the resources to ensure they are able to examine all the facts.

Natasha Mazzone of the DA said Parliament needed to move with speed because billions of rand were being taken out of the country every day.