The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday expressed shock concerning the Public Protector’s decision to suspend its investigation into allegations of financial misconduct against Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba.
”The DA feels it is far more important that the Public Protector continues his investigation as he began it almost a month ago. It would be a waste of time and energy to suspend the investigation now,” DA spokesperson for home affairs Mark Lowe said.
Gigaba allegedly sent flowers to his wife at the department’s expense, each bouquet costing up to R547.
He has also been accused of setting up a private organisation known as The Malusi Gigaba Institute of Leadership, which was run from his office.
Further claims were that Gigaba’s department paid for flight tickets and car rental of individuals associated with that organisation.
Lowe said Parliament could only call Gigaba to answer questions, but had limited powers thereafter, while the Public Protector, Lawrence Mushwana, did not face such limitations.
Mushwana announced on Tuesday that because the National Assembly home affairs committee had begun its own inquiry it would be imprudent to continue his investigation.
”These are the same allegations we had started investigating. We will temporarily suspend our investigation pending the outcome of Parliament’s investigation.” said Mushwana.
Lowe called on Mushwana to reconsider his decision in the interest of the country.
”It is of the utmost importance that the Public Protector continues with his investigation as he has the best opportunity to find the truth in the allegations and take the appropriate steps thereafter,” he said.
The Public Protector Act makes provision for the Protector to investigate at his own initiative any alleged maladministration in connection with the affairs of government.
Earlier this year, the DA called for Parliament’s watchdog public accounts committee to probe allegations of irregular spending by Gigaba.
The Freedom Front Plus demanded an independent inquiry into the allegations, saying they amounted to an abuse of his powers as deputy minister.
Policy
In July, a preliminary investigation into allegations of corruption found that flowers for Gigaba’s wife were wrongfully bought from the department’s budget.
In a statement, the department said that although policy allowed the deputy minister to send flowers to colleagues, counterparts and other people, his office should not have paid for flowers for his wife from the department’s budget.
”It is important to reiterate that ministers and deputy ministers are not personally responsible for administration and utilisation of finances in their offices. This is done by support staff in their offices,” said Jacky Mashapu, acting head of communications.
On the other allegations in a newspaper report, the investigation did not find wrongdoing on the part of the minister.
In an article, Die Burger had claimed that Gigaba’s office had, since 2005, paid for flight tickets and car hire for several individuals not employed in his office. Some of these names are linked to the youth organisation under Gigaba’s name.
Mashapu, however, had said that Gigaba’s office was entitled to pay for the tickets and car hire.
”The deputy minister, in the performance of his official duties, has invited a number of people to official meetings and at certain points for various technical advice, some of these have travelled at departmental expense. This is consistent with procedure and practice within government,” he said. — Sapa