Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa made up an accusation that R100-million of Scorpions funds was unaccounted for, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said on Wednesday.
Mthethwa said in Parliament in February that R100-million was unaccounted for by the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions).
”Instead of an open and honest explanation, the minister’s response demonstrates that there was no justification for his claim,” Kohler Barnard said.
”The only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the minister simply made up this accusation as part of a shamefully dishonest public assault on the Scorpions ahead of their disbandment earlier this year.”
Mthethwa responded to a question from Kohler-Barnard on the missing R100-million by saying: ”The total liability that the police will inherit from the DSO amounts to approximately R242-million.”
”In other words, Mthethwa cannot even remotely begin to explain his claim,” Kohler Barnard said.
”His response refers to the operational and administrative cost the [South African Police Service] will take over as a result of the division of the DSO and the National Prosecuting Agency.”
Kohler Barnard said the DA will resubmit this question for a fourth time.
”We will continue to submit this question until the minister provides an adequate response.
”In the interim, the only conclusion one can draw is that the minister of police was simply making it up as he went along.” — Sapa