State capture committee still awaiting go-ahead

Parties have not endorsed parliamentary plan

PARTIES in Parliament have not formally endorsed a proposal for an ad hoc committee to be set up to probe state capture following the leaking of thousands of emails seemingly implicating top government officials, including ministers, in the business operations of the Gupta family.

The DA tabled a proposal for the setting up of such a committee at a meeting of party chief whips ast week.

The ANC said yesterday it had not yet taken a position on the matter.

ANC caucus spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli said she would not comment on decisions of the caucus as they were internal matters.

“The ANC has not taken a position on the matter. Caucus discussions are internal discussions,” she said when pressed for information of what the party caucus had discussed last week.

DA deputy chief whip Mike Waters said his party had tabled the proposal for the establishment of an ad hoc committee into state capture.

He said the ANC had indicated at the meeting last week it would discuss this at its caucus meeting.

The DA said it wanted a parliamentary inquiry into state capture following the emails that have implicated top government officials as having been “captured” by the Guptas.

In addition to senior government officials, the emails contain names of chief executives, chairpersons of boards and other executives in stateowned entities.

The DA and EFF have laid criminal charges against those who appear to be implicated in state capture.

The official opposition said last week it wanted to table the proposal to the Chief Whips Forum, where a decision would have to be taken.

Other opposition parties have backed an inquiry into state capture.

In her “State of Capture” report released in October, former public protector Thuli Madonsela said a commission of inquiry was needed to investigate state-owned entities and other government agencies.

However, President Jacob Zuma has objected to her report and has taken it on review. Zuma is opposed to, among other things, being directed by the public protector on the appointment of the commission of inquiry.

The law and constitution give such powers to the president, he argued.

In his reply in Parliament last week, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said he fully supported the commission of inquiry into state capture.

He said South Africa needed to get the matter behind it. He said the ANC had also backed it after the meeting of the national executive committee a few weeks ago.

He denied that the ANC wanted to delay the inquiry by stretching the scope beyond the Guptas.

Zuma will be in Parliament on Thursday, where he will face questions on state capture and the issues around it.

This is a scheduled question-and-answer session between Zuma and Parliament.