The Ginwala Commission of Inquiry into suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli has criticised the government for its ”slow response” and failure to deliver its submission on time.
In a statement on Tuesday — issued shortly after the deadline for the submission had expired — inquiry head Frene Ginwala said she had ”reluctantly” granted the government a 10-day extension.
”The government, through the state attorney, wrote to me late yesterday afternoon [Monday] requesting an extension until January 31 2008 on the basis that their submissions require input from a variety of government officials, some of whom are only returning to work this week.
”Having reluctantly agreed to an extension of time for the government to file its further submissions, my office has subsequently been advised that a submission in the form of an affidavit will still be delivered today [Tuesday].
”Acutely aware of the amount of time that the government has already had to prepare and finalise its further submissions, I granted the government an extension only until [noon] on Friday January 25 2008.
”The government has further advised us that additional supporting affidavits will be submitted before or on January 25 2008.”
Ginwala said she would not entertain any further delays in the work of the inquiry, and would ”proceed on the basis of such information as I have received from government by January 25”.
Time frames would now be adjusted to allow Pikoli — who originally had until January 31 — sufficient time to make his submission.
”Revised time frames for the enquiry will be set in due course. I want to reiterate my commitment to uphold the integrity of the inquiry and do not intend to permit delays to undermine its speedy conclusion,” Ginwala said.
Her statement was critical of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla’s office, and contains a timeline highlighting the ministry’s ”slow response” to correspondence sent to it regarding the inquiry.
The Justice Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
President Thabo Mbeki suspended Pikoli on September 24 last year, and four days later, appointed Ginwala — the former speaker of the National Assembly — to head the inquiry.
Its terms of reference cover two broad areas: Pikoli’s fitness to hold office, and the breakdown of the working relationship between him and Mabandla.
The commission will sit in Pretoria.
In terms of the rules establishing the commission, Ginwala will decide whether to call for a hearing after receiving all the submissions, and also whether this will be held in public or private. — Sapa