Zuma must push Bongo to resign

State Security Minister Bongani Bongo has retained his portfolio despite the dark cloud hovering over his head.

Soon after President Jacob Zuma appointed Bongo to this sensitive position in the security cluster two months ago, allegations of the minister’s past financial misdeeds started surfacing. The first was that the Hawks were probing him after Mpumalanga conveyancers, who were involved in a land transaction with a provincial government department he worked for, allegedly paid R300 000 towards his luxury car in 2011.

The second allegation was that these conveyancers paid R1.5million into his wife’s account, which is believed to have been used towards building Bongo’s private residence.

The most damning allegation relates to the affidavit signed by the evidence leader in the parliamentary state capture enquiry into Eskom, Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, claimed that Bongo offered him a blank cheque to stymie the investigation.

It has understandably prompted Zuma, who had been quiet all along, to assure the public that he was attending to the Bongo matter.

Surely, had Bongo been vetted, he would not have received security clearance and the president would have had to think twice about his suitability for this or any other cabinet post.

In a mature democracy, a public functionary who faces such accusations would have tendered his resignation already. Instead, he has chosen not to speak about the matter. While he has every right not to incriminate himself, his silence may be seen as contempt for the public he supposedly serves. It smacks of lack of accountability.

Zuma should not dither for too long.

Trust in our public institutions has taken a hammering under his administration because of revelations such as these.

Retaining public officials who undermine that trust signals that his commitment to fighting graft in government is tepid.

Perhaps there may yet be a silver lining to the cloud hanging over Bongo. That would be his resignation, followed by a prompt and independent investigation into the allegations facing him.

If he fails to do so, Zuma will have to push him.