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Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde has refused to heed the recommendations of the Public Protector to report to Cabinet on her role in the SAPS lease scandal. This announcement is unacceptable and quite clearly indicates that the Minister is attempting to avoid been held accountable.

A directive of the Public Protector, issued after the Minister was found to have acted unlawfully and improperly, cannot be ignored in such a manner.

Cabinet’s decision to let the minister of the hook reinforces the perception that government is trying to bury the Public Protector’s findings, and does not have the political will to hold the Minister, or the National Police Commissioner, to account. This is not, as government spin doctor Jimmy Manyi asserted, a matter between the President and the Minister. It is a matter between the Minister and the South African people.

The Minister owes the South African public an explanation. This matter cannot be brushed under the carpet and or resolved privately. If the Minister has nothing to hide, surely she would seek to put forward her side of the story at the earliest possible opportunity.

The DA reiterates our urgent request for the Chairperson of the Public Works committee to summon the Minister before the committee and account for her role in this scandal. To date, the Minister has twice failed to show up for these meetings citing a variety of pathetic excuses. We cannot allow transparency and accountability in our democracy to be undermined in such a way.