Madonsela best placed to deal with Guptagate: DA

18 March 2016 - 12:25 By TMG Digital
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The public protector “is most appropriately suited to deal” with the “Guptagate scandal”‚ the Democratoic Alliance (DA) said.

The party’s leader‚ Mmusi Maimane‚ said the DA trust Thuli Madonsela’s office will “swift action and begin an investigation as soon as possible” into what he said was “alleged abuse of executive power by President Jacob Zuma”.

This‚ Maimane said‚ relates “to the manner in which at least one African National Congress (ANC) member was offered a cabinet position in exchange for committing to make Gupta-friendly executive decisions”.

He said “individual ministers who are in possible violation of the Executive Ethics Act” will also have complaints lodged against them.

It comes in the wake of revelations this week by former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor that she was offered the job of public enterprises minister by the Guptas and deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas’ confirmation that he had received a similar offer.

“These revelations directly implicate President Zuma‚ and after laying criminal charges against Atul and Ajay Gupta yesterday‚ it is our view that the public protector is most appropriately suited to deal with the matter at hand in relation to President Zuma‚” said Maimane.

Other action envisaged by the DA‚ said Mainame includes “asking parliamentary questions to all cabinet ministers‚ to ascertain whether they or their the deputy ministers have ever met with any member of the Gupta family”.

The party will also request the establishment of an “ad hoc committee to investigate the close ties between the Gupta family and President Zuma‚ including their alleged involvement in the capture of state resources and their undue influence over the executive”.

This motion could be debated in Parliament on May 17.

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