'Disappointing': Busi Mkhwebane criticises Ramaphosa's SAPS inquiry as a waste of resources
Image: Independent Newspapers
Former Public Protector and Umkhonto weSizwe (MK party) Mpumalanga convenor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has lambasted President Cyril Ramaphosa's move to place embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave, and the establishment of a commission of inquiry into allegations regarding law enforcement agencies.
IOL reported on Sunday that while the placement of Mchunu on special leave was applauded by some, the decision to establish a commission of inquiry into allegations regarding the South African Police Service (SAPS) was largely criticised.
Political analysts said that the commission could be a waste of time and resources, like the Zondo commission, which was established to investigate the allegations of State Capture in 2019.
In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Mkwebane said the resources channeled towards the commission of inquiry could be funneled towards improving the SAPS.
"I would say, being the former Public Protector, it is very disappointing. The country is in tatters, and the decision that the president has taken, won't take us any further. We are still going to be impacted because no commission of inquiry was ever implemented. The president has usurped the powers of Chapter 9 institutions. The worst part is that the commission of inquiry just makes recommendations, holding the country in suspense.
"We need resources, as Mpumalanga as well, we need resources. You put a minister on special leave, why not remove the minister, because the president, in terms of the Constitution, has the powers to do that immediately. Why waste resources? You appoint somebody who is a director of Corruption Watch, funded by foreign backers like George Soros. I think he is putting the country deep, deep into trouble and that will impact us as a province."
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Prof. Firoz Cachalia
Image: Facebook
Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Professor Cachalia as acting minister of police, pending the outcome of the commission of inquiry. Cachalia, a legal academic and chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, will assume the role in August.
Cachalia, 66, is a former anti-apartheid activist, lawyer, academic, and experienced public servant. Born in Benoni in 1958, he became involved in student politics against apartheid in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Mkhwebane said the province of Mpumalanga, like other provinces in South Africa, is bedevilled by massive unemployment levels. She said fighting the scourge of corruption requires a head-on approach, not commissions of inquiry.
"That money should have been utilised to make sure that the police are quick, they arrest and remove people who are not supposed to be there because there is evidence which commissioner (KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla) Mkhwanazi has delivered. I think this is disappointing," she said.
Ramaphosa on Sunday announced his decision to establish the commission of inquiry and place Mchunu on special leave following allegations made by Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu of sabotaging a probe into political killings by seizing 121 open case files in March and pushing to disband the team tasked with the probe.
Mkhwanazi claimed that Mchunu had connections to members of a crime syndicate.
He also accused some senior police officials of being involved in corruption.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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ALSO READ: D-Day for Ramaphosa's plan of action on state capture report 'Ramaphosa inconsistent Zondo told the SACC event on Wednesday that Ramaphosa had been 'inconsistent' in disciplining cabinet ministers implicated in wrongdoing, citing the recent scandals involving the minister of human settlements, Thembi Simelane, embattled police minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on special leave, and the now-fired higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane. 'So the question arises, what is the rule? As a minister, when do you get shifted to another department and continue to be a minister and enjoy your position and benefits even though there are allegations against you? When do you get out on special leave, and when do you get removed? 'The president is the No. 1 citizen in the country. It is very important that the message he sends, through what he does and through what he says, must be consistent,' Zondo said. Swearing in ministers Zondo said this is similar to what happened two years ago. 'I found myself having to swear in ministers against whom I had made adverse findings in the commission. One was a deputy minister who was now promoted to a full minister, and I had to swear them in, knowing the findings I had made. 'Another one was the deputy minister who was a chairperson of the portfolio committee who had previously been minister of transport, and I had made findings against them, and the president was promoting them despite the findings of the commission. What does that do to our fight against corruption?' Zondo said. Ridding SA of corruption Zondo said for the country to effectively rid itself of corruption, it needs to hold the executive to account and not compromise on those who serve in the highest offices of the land. He said that those facing corruption allegations should not be appointed to any positions. 'There are many people who have no allegations of fraud or corruption hanging over their heads who qualify to be ministers,' said Zondo. 'Even in the same party, there is no reason why somebody should be appointed before they clear themselves of such allegations. But also, there are people in public service who are allowed to continue with their work as usual even when there are findings of wrongdoing against them. The state simply allows them to continue. This is not the kind of leadership we need if we are going to fight corruption.' 'Consequences' In November 2022 in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said there must be consequences for those who had plundered South Africa and involved in state capture. He also said the country had learnt its lesson in plundering money over the years of state capture 'As we recover from state capture, we must ensure there are consequences for the perpetrators of state capture. 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