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I have asked the Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Mmathulare Coleman, to summon the Competition Commission before Parliament so that it can account for potential nepotism at the public entity.

In the Competition Commission’s 2015/2016 Annual Report, tabled yesterday in Parliament, the Auditor-General notes that: “Persons in service of the public entity whose close family members, partners or associates had a private or business interest in contracts awarded by the public entity failed to disclose such interest, as required by Treasury Regulation 16A8.4”.

This is a blemish on the Competition Commission’s otherwise clean copybook.

Treasury Regulation 16A8.4 states that if a supply chain management official or other role player, or any close family member, partner or associate of such official or other role player, has any private or business interest in any contract to be awarded, that official or other role player must disclose that interest and withdraw from participating in any manner whatsoever in the process relating to that contract.

The failure to disclose a private or business interest must have consequences.

Disciplinary steps should be taken against any officials or role players who have been found guilty of neglecting to disclose such interests. Treasury should be informed of these steps, and any misconduct that may constitute an offence should be reported to the South African Police Service.

The DA will ensure that all these procedures were followed in the case of the Competition Commission, and get to the bottom of any potential nepotism or corruption at the public entity.

Issued by DA