Ngcuka: MPs 'don't know'
2004-06-22 22:26
Cape Town - Opposition parties say they cannot express disapproval at statements made by National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka about the deputy president as he had not been allowed to make submissions to parliament.
This follows recommendations by the committee on the public protector's report that Ngcuka be "mildly rebuked" for publicly stating that although there was a prima facie case of corruption against deputy president Jacob Zuma, he would not be prosecuted.
During discussions on Tuesday, DA MP Sheila Camerer told the committee that her party could not express an opinion on whether or not Ngcuka should receive a rebuke.
"We cannot express an opinion as we don't have sufficient evidence to make a decision," said Camerer, referring to the committee's earlier decision not to allow Ngcuka to submit evidence to it.
"We would have liked to have seen the full press release. We were anxious to see the submission of the NDPP. We would have liked contextualised input."
'Majority will prevail'
Camerer further asked that the minority views be included in the report.
"The majority will prevail, we accept that, but we cannot make a strong point for disapproval," she said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party expressed its own dissatisfaction in a letter to committee chairperson Ismail Vadi.
Said IFP MP Jacobus Van der Merwe: "I wish to inform you that as the committee denied the national director the opportunity to appear before the committee to explain his statement, the IFP cannot express its disapproval.
"In doing so, the IFP would be culpable of the same impropriety that the national director's statement is being accused of."
The committee agreed that Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla should have 60 days to convene a meeting between the national prosecuting authority and the public protector to resolve differences between the two institutions.
Mabandla should also take immediate steps to establish an effective system of information security within the NPA and report to the national assembly on these measure within 60 days.
The committee will reconvene on Wednesday to thrash out several issues, including the inclusion of minority views in the report.
The committee's report is expected to be tabled in parliament on Friday.
- SAPA