African National Congress MP Ismail Vadi, who was elected unopposed as chairperson of the ad hoc committee on the public protector on Wednesday afternoon, said he undertakes to conduct his responsibility with humility and in a manner that will ”bring dignity” to Parliament.
The committee will consider the report of Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana who rapped National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka over the knuckles for saying that there was prima facie evidence of corruption by Deputy President Jacob Zuma but there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
Zuma had lodged a complaint with the protector who said in his report that Ngcuka had undermined Zuma’s constitutionally protected human dignity.
The matter arises out of an allegation that the deputy president received R500 000 from a French company involved in the arms deal.
The Inkatha Freedom Party representative on the committee, Koos van der Merwe — his party’s chief whip in the National Assembly — said senior counsel’s opinion should be elicited to determine the meaning of prima facie and sub judice, ”both of pivotal importance” in the probe.
”The protection of the institutions [of democracy] is what it is all about.”
Vadi noted that the committee has to consider the report ”and report back to the National Assembly by June 25; that gives us about two weeks to complete our mandate”.
”I am going to request that all members prioritise the work of this committee. It is critical that we give this committee top priority,” he said.
He noted that members on the committee — including 10 from the ruling African National Congress and seven from opposition parties — have been given copies of the National Prosecuting Authority Act as amended and the Public Protector Act as amended and the report of the public protector.
ANC MP Richard Baloyi said as the ANC component of the committee ”we are committed to participate in a manner that will give attention to the protector’s report and at all times try for reasonableness and transparency and strive for fairness in dealing with this report”.
He said the deliberations will be held in full view of the media and ”we want the public to be informed”.
Pan-Africanist Congress MP Themba Godi said the probe involves ”two critical” institutions of democracy.
”We are here to deal with the facts,” he said.
Democratic Alliance representative Sheila Camerer commiserated with Vadi for taking up ”this tricky post” and welcomed the ANC’s commitment to transparency.
”The DA’s goal in participating is to uphold the institutions which are so important to the rule of law.”
She said the parties to the ”fracas” should be given the ”full chance to be heard”.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said the recommendations made by the public protector have to be ”interrogated”.
Among those are that Ngcuka and the National Prosecuting Authority be held accountable for failing to cooperate with the public protector and for infringing upon the deputy president’s constitutional rights. — I-Net Bridge