Dear Editor
The DA has called on SCOPA to condemn the arrogant refusal by Mondli Gungubele, Minister in the Presidency, and the State Security Agency (SSA) to account for slow progress in vetting state officials.
Vetting was recommended by SCOPA in a 2019 report, adopted by the National Assembly, following an oversight visit to Eskom. The vetting process aims to expose corrupt links between officials and suppliers. This has become critical given Eskom CEO, Andre Ruyter’s admission that corruption is deeply entrenched in Eskom procurement processes.
This is the second time in the recent past that the State Security Agency (SSA) has refused to account to SCOPA with the first having been a refusal to submit to SCOPA oversight on allegations highlighted by President Ramaphosa regarding the use of SSA budgets to fund ANC party matters.
The refusal by Minister Gungubele and the SSA to account to SCOPA on the 9 of November 2022 is inexplicable and unacceptable given that the SSA as well as the Minister of State Security have previously appeared before SCOPA to account for the progress or lack thereof in vetting especially Eskom officials.
It was unfortunate, yet typical that the ANC, whilst agreeing that the refusal by Minister Gungubele and the SSA to account to SCOPA on the 9 of November 2022 was problematic, opposed a condemnation of Minister Gungubele and SSA.
Regards
Alf Lees MP
DA Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
