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According to reports, President Jacob Zuma has today stated that no further investigations will be launched into the affairs of presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

While he was Minister of Transport, Maharaj was allegedly paid a R1.2 million kickback from a French arms manufacturer in return for a R265 million credit card licence tender.

The President’s assertion that an investigation into the alleged kickbacks could somehow form part of the arms deal commission is disingenuous. The kickbacks received by Maharaj did not form part of the arms deal, and the Commission of Inquiry would therefore have no mandate to investigate them.

This morning, I wrote to the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, to ask her to open an investigation into the allegations concerning Maharaj.

The allegations point to what appears to be a serious case of corruption, and require full investigation.