IOL | News for South Africa and the World 2011/07/31 8:05 PM
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IOL | News for South Africa and the world 2011/07/31 8:05 PM Print this page Opposition question proposed anti-graft body July 30 2011 at 11:23am By Marianne Merten Related Stories Can Zuma walk the corruption talk? A cabinet proposal to establish an overarching anti- corruption body “to co-ordinate activities at an administrative level” and to “review the effectiveness” of existing organs like the Public Protector, the Hawks and various units of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has roused the suspicions of commentators. The idea was revealed after Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane told journalists on Friday that this INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS week’s cabinet lekgotla had discussed neither the The idea was revealed after Minister in the Presidency damning public protector report on the R1.7 billion Collins Chabane told journalists that this week's cabinet lekgotla had discussed neither the damning police head office leases saga, nor the future of Co- public protector report on the R1.7 billion police head operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka, who office leases saga. Picture: Sizwe Ndingane allegedly went on a R1 million spending spree with public funds. Opposition parties and analysts reacted with alarm to the announcement and the lack of discussion of the Public Protector’s report or the minister, who is in his sixth month of sick leave. “It is inconceivable that the leaders of the country would meet and not discuss something that has been on everyone’s lips and minds,” said DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard. “We were looking for leadership and once again he (Zuma) slipped at the first post.” Although Chabane said the idea of an overarching anti-corruption body was still in the conceptual stage, it has raised red flags. Johan Burger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies Crime and Justice Programme said this sounded “suspiciously close to an attempt at exerting more control”. “Is that now another way to get control over the Public Protector, the Hawks?” asked Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald. UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said: “They have tried this before… but because they deploy their comrades to these structures, nobody is going to take them seriously.” Cope spokesman Phillip Dexter said it was “ominous”, given the track record of the Public Protector and, previously, the Scorpions.” And it was “ridiculous” that a minister in a crucial portfolio could be incapacitated for so long without action being taken, Dexter added. Analysts and commentators have, for some time, pointed to the government’s plethora of anti-corruption http://www.pretorianews.co.za/opposition-question-proposed-anti-graft-body-1.1108833?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot Page 1 of 2 IOL | News for South Africa and the world 2011/07/31 8:05 PM initiatives while highlighting an apparent lack of political will to act against transgressors. ANC spokesman Brian Sokutu yesterday however said the party would welcome any structure in the fight against corruption. Regarding Shiceka’s future, Chabane later said this “is not a cabinet matter. It’s a matter between the President and the minister”. - Saturday Star © 1999 - 2010 Independent Online. All rights strictly reserved. Independent Online is a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent News & Media. Reliance on the information this site contains is at your own risk. http://www.pretorianews.co.za/opposition-question-proposed-anti-graft-body-1.1108833?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot Page 2 of 2.