Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) announced on Tuesday that it has named seven of its most experienced MPs to a 12-member Parliamentary ad hoc committee which will examine President Jacob Zuma’s response to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on the US$20 million worth of upgrades to his private Nkandla home.
With less than three weeks remaining before the general elections, the ANC has been rocked by the scandal with growing speculation that Zuma could be recalled after the election.
The parliamentary committee is tasked with formulating a response to the damning 450-page report that found that taxpayer’s money was used for the upgrading of Zuma’s home.
The deadline for the committee to report back to the legislature is April, 30, 2014.
The ANC named the seven as National Assembly House chairman, Cedric Frolick, ANC whip on the labour portfolio committee, Buti Manamela, ANC deputy chief whip, Doris Dlakude, public service and administration portfolio committee chairwoman, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, joint standing committee on intelligence chairman, Cecil Burgess, justice and constitutional development portfolio committee chairman, Luwellyn Landers, and ANC whip on the communications portfolio committee, Faith Muthambi.
The other committee members are made up of senior officials from the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party and Freedom Front.
“The DA will not give up on asserting Parliament’s rightful place as the people’s watchdog; nor will we stop pushing for answers from all those implicated in this scandal, including President Zuma himself,” said DA Parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Earlier this month, Zuma appeared to have out-manoeuvered those calling for his head over the money spent on security upgrades at his private residence by offering a brief response to Madonsela’s report just ahead of the deadline.
He found a loophole by saying he would now await a report from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which could give him a reprieve of several months before he is forced to account for his role in the debacle.
Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said because three state agencies or institutions have all investigated the issue, Zuma will await the SIU report before giving “a full and proper consideration to all the matters before him”.
