Mthethwa refuses to answer DA

2008-10-29 19:03

Cape Town - The number of dogs used by the SA Police Service at ports, airports and land borders to sniff out illegal drugs cannot be disclosed because doing so might jeopardise police operations, says newly-appointed Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance, which sought to establish how many sniffer dogs were available to police around the country, he declined to give details.

"I am no longer going to provide answers that will impact negatively on our operational deployments of human and material resources, or with respect to any area of our operational strategy and tactics," Mthethwa said.

The minister gave the same reply to two other questions, posed by the opposition party - on how many police officers and detectives were serving in the North and East Rand police districts, including how many bulletproof vests and radios were available to them.

A similar reply was received by the DA to four other questions related to the number of vacancies at various SAPS units.

In a statement on Tuesday, DA safety and security spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard said Mthethwa's refusal to provide such detail showed "a decided contempt for the principles of openness, transparency and accountability".

The questions posed by the DA to the minister went to the heart of South Africa's ability to win the war on crime.

"His refusal to table an adequate response to them shows an unwillingness on his part to commit to the principles which underpin his duties as a public official."

It was vital the information be made available to MPs, and to the opposition in particular.

"There can be no legitimate reason why making this information available would compromise the SAPS's ability to fulfil its mandate."

Kohler-Barnard said the DA had asked for Mthethwa to be called before the safety and security portfolio committee to explain his failure to provide adequate answers to legitimate parliamentary questions, and to provide the information required.

"The DA will also write to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request that she intervene directly to demand a response from the minister, as part of her responsibility to protect the integrity of Parliament," she said.

Mthethwa's refusal to reply to parliamentary questions he believes deal with SAPS operational matters is a continuation of the policy pursued by his predecessor, Charles Nqakula.

- SAPA