The Democratic Alliance rejects Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s attempt to implement a Public Protector’s Report, which has not been made public or tabled in the Legislature.

Premier Mahumapelo tabled a plan to implement this report into financial misconduct and maladministration at the Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development in a SCOPA meeting on Tuesday 1 September 2015 – Yet the Premier refuses to table the actual report of the Public Protector.

Scopa cannot consider a remedial plan, without knowing what the Public Protector has found and what her remedial action steps are.

This report was never made public although it was finalized in August 2013, signed off by the Public Protector and submitted to the Premier at that time.

The DA is not willing to simply accept the Premier’s version when he clearly has something to hide.

This is only one of many outstanding reports, some which date back 21 years, that were not tabled yet – despite promises by the Premier nearly 15 months ago that all outstanding investigation reports will be tabled.

The Democratic Alliance welcomes the investigation by Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s office, but cannot rely on the goodwill of Mahumapelo when it comes to serious matters like overpayments, suspicious conduct by senior officials and corrupt relationships between role-players in the procurements of services – these are things Mahumapelo would prefer to cover up.

The DA believes in transparency and will demand the full report be tabled in the Legislature before we can agree to any action plan the Premier suggests.

Once the DA has studied the report and ensures its accuracy we will be able to comment on the remedial action that need to be taken to bring the accountable officials to justice.

Issued by DA North West