Thuli Madonsela confirms ‘state capture’ probe proceeding: Maimane

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela confirmed this week that her office’s ongoing investigation into state capture in South Africa‚ and in particular that which pertains to the well-known Gupta family was “proceeding”‚ Democratic Alliqance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Sunday.

He said Madonsela had confirmed this in response to a letter he had written to her on August 29 requesting a progress report on the investigation.

In her reply‚ she stated: “I can confirm that the investigation is proceeding and that I am receiving full cooperation from most parties involved.”

Maimane said the Public Protector in her response to his letter also stated that she had “been provided with various voluminous information and documentation for review”.

 “This speaks to how deep President Zuma’s programme of state capture goes and his role in undermining the country’s constitutional democracy.

“In light of this‚ as the Democratic Alliance‚ we welcome the public pronouncements by Adv Madonsela that she has subpoenaed the Secretary of Cabinet‚ Dr Cassius Lubisi‚ and the subsequent announcement by Minister in the President Jeff Radebe that Cabinet will comply with her request for the declarations of Members of Cabinet and the minutes from Cabinet meetings that took place between November 2015 and April 2016‚” Maimane added.

The DA leader said that in the party’s request for the Public Protector to investigate the Guptas undue influence on the State‚ its entities and President Jacob Zuma‚ it had specifically asked the Public Protector to investigate whether President Zuma violated Paragraph 2(b) of the Executive Ethics Act by:

- Exposing himself to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between his official responsibilities and his private interests;

- Using his position or any information entrusted to him‚ to enrich himself or improperly benefit any other person; and

- Acting in a way that may compromise the credibility or integrity of his office or of the government.

“Earlier this month‚ the ANC in the National Assembly voted against a motion to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate allegations of state capture in government by Parliament. This is another case of the ANC putting Jacob Zuma and its own interests ahead of South Africa and its people.

“The Democratic Alliance remains committed to ensuring that corruption in all its manifestations is investigated and that those found to be robbing the people of opportunities are held accountable‚” Maimane said.

The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that Madonsela was going all out to complete her latest probe into Zuma before she packs up her desk in October‚ saying this time she was probing Zuma for allegedly allowing the Gupta family to influence his appointment of cabinet ministers and heads of state-owned entities.

To build her case against Zuma‚ the Sunday Times reported‚ Madonsela has set out to interview no fewer than 23 top officials and members of Zuma’s cabinet‚ among them seven ministers‚ a deputy minister and a former MP.