/ 13 March 2018

No excuses for Gigaba to miss state capture inquiry

Minister Malusi Gigaba
Minister Malusi Gigaba

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has confirmed to Parliament’s committee on public enterprises that he would attend its inquiry into the abuse and mismanagement of state-owned enterprises.

Chairperson of the public enterprises committee Daphne Ranto told the Mail & Guardian on Tuesday morning that Gigaba had sent a letter last week to the committee confirming he would be in attendance.

Gigaba is accused of helping to appoint Gupta associates to board positions in state businesses during his tenure as public enterprises minister.

Last week, Gigaba dodged a question session in the House where he was expected to clarify the Guptas’ citizenship in South Africa.

Gigaba told National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete that he was too ill to attend the meeting, but was reported to have been seen around Cape Town on the day of his appearance

Ranto said, however, that Gigaba will not try to dodge the inquiry on Monday.

“I don’t think that he will be having excuses ever again,” she said.

Former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni and the Gupta brothers were also scheduled to appear before the inquiry on Monday.

But Myeni sent a letter on Monday to the committee saying she is too ill and a lawyer representing the Gupta brothers say they are out of the country and are unable to attend.

This is the second time in a week that Myeni has been absent after  being scheduled to testify before the inquiry

Ranto said that the committee is aware of a report by City Press that Myeni was spotted in the upmarket Garden Court hotel with a companion in Hatfield, Pretoria on the night when she was meant to be attending the inquiry into Eskom last week.

The committee will today decide on what action to take against Myeni’s absenteeism. Ranto said that the committee has an option to subpoena Myeni or they will draw up a report without her testimony.

The state capture inquiry is expected to start at 9.30am.