Still no decision on type of Zwane, Guptas inquiry

PARLIAMENT’S mineral resources portfolio committee has again deferred making a decision on the nature of the inquiry into allegations against Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane.

Zwane reportedly flew with the Guptas on their private jet to Switzerland and was allegedly involved in the purchase of Optimum Mine from Glencore by the Guptas.

The committee yesterday received an opinion from the parliamentary legal unit, which advised that it had the option of deciding between a general oversight or a statutory inquiry.

Zwane was a stone’s throw from the meeting, attending a “cabinet and other crucial meetings in Cape Town” after tendering an apology.

He has been given until tomorrow to furnish dates for consideration for scheduled committee meetings.

Briefing the portfolio committee, legal adviser Frank Jenkins said the committee had a mandate to perform oversight and scrutinise the executive, but said witnesses were summoned as a last resort and that failure to appear before the committee was a criminal offence.

He also said witnesses could not hide behind the sub judice rule when asked questions.

Zwane ducked questions in the last meeting, claiming they were sub judice.

Earlier, committee chairperson Zet Luzipo had noted that Zwane had not committed to when he would appear before the committee.

“It could have been an element of oversight when we did not specify what route we intended to move,” Luzipo said. “I get worried if we don’t have a picture of what we want or want to project because… We have not started the inquiry.”

But the DA’s Hendrik Schmidt said Zwane needed to be given reasonable opportunity to provide his version of the events.

“There is enough for there to be substantive inquiry on the matter. Procedurally, we need to follow the process in its fullest,” Schmidt said.

The ANC’s Mandla Mandela said they were merely conducting an oversight role to question Zwane and then compile a report for Parliament.

The DA’s James Lorimer later told the media that Mandela was trying to constrain the terms of reference of the inquiry and insisted there was enough ground to pursue statutory inquiry into Zwane’s relationship with the Gupta family and state capture.