The Cabinet has denied having influenced the Gautrain consortium selection and defended the right of all citizens, including members of the government, to participate in the economy.
At its final fortnightly meeting of the year on Wednesday, the Cabinet noted media reports alleging a conflict of interest when it discussed the Gautrain project, because certain members had financial interests in one of the consortia that was awarded the concession, government communications head Themba Maseko told a media briefing on Thursday.
”The Cabinet would like to make it categorically clear that its discussions and decision were of general scope and only pertained to the principle of the funding request from the Gauteng government.
”At no stage did the Cabinet discuss either the bid or any of the bidders,” he said.
The adjudication of the tenders was dealt with by the Gauteng provincial government and the Cabinet could not have influenced that decision in any way whatsoever.
”We are concerned that all attempts by ministers to clarify their positions in this regard seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
”We reject these unjustified and unfounded insinuations in the strongest possible terms. This government is committed to clean governance and no amount of rumour will deflect us from this commitment.”
Cabinet further reaffirmed the right of all citizens, including members of government, to participate in the economy, including through acquisition of shares in private companies as long this was done in an open and transparent manner.
”Our legal framework does not prohibit this, but requires government employees and members of the executive to declare such interests.”
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the Codes of Good Practice on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.
These include the codes on employment equity, skills development, procurement and enterprise development, Trade and Industry Department deputy director General Lionel October told a media briefing on Thursday.
The charters for the agricultural, tourism, finance and construction sectors had also been approved. — Sapa