FINALISATION AND ADOPTION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT

6 August 2015

The parliamentary ad hoc committee set up to consider the Police

Ministers report on the security upgrades at the Presidents private
residence today finalised and adopted its report which will be tabled for
consideration by the National Assembly. The National Assembly directed
the ad hoc committee to conclude and report on its work by 7 August
2015.

The committee expressed satisfaction that the reports of both the police
minister and public works complied with the recommendations of the
2014 ad hoc committee. The police ministers report, in particular, gives a
thorough and accurate picture of the state of affairs regarding the
upgrades at Nkandla and was helpful during the course of the committees
in loco inspection. Contrary to the opposition political posturing, the report
of the police minister was never intended as a replacement for any other
investigative report on Nkandla, but was intended to provide a full account
of the implementation of the recommendations of the previous ad hoc
committee.

The ad hoc committee found in its report that South Africans were misled
about the so-called opulence at the private residence of the President and
that there was a gross exaggeration of the scope, scale and cost of the
project. Through the corrupt collusion of officials and private contractors,
the prices were grossly inflated and the shoddy workmanship as well as
poor quality facilities do not correlate with the amount of money paid.
There is general consensus that those responsible for deviation from the
PFMA should be held accountable and the money must be recovered from
those found guilty of these transgressions. We are pleased that efforts are
currently underway to ensure that all implicated in corrupt conduct are
pursued legally and all the monies are recouped.

The committee has recommended that the portfolio committees on public

works, police and the standing committee on intelligence must ensure

continuous monitoring of corrective actions to be taken by the relevant

national departments. The committee also recommended that the
relevant departments and law enforcement authorities ensure the
expeditious conclusion of civil, criminal and disciplinary matters.

It is unfortunate that the opposition sprung the so-called minority report,

which is similar to the DA document it submitted to the committee when it
started. Their claim that they participated in good faith therefore rings
hallow, as their report is a proof that their minds were already made up
even before the ad hoc committee could start with its business.

The opposition has repeatedly claimed that the ad hoc process was illegal
and unconstitutional. This is despite the establishment of the committee
process itself being the consequence of the demand by the opposition to
Parliament following the release of the police minister's report.

The minority report of the opposition does not only undermine the
thorough work that the committee had undertaken, it also undermines the
contribution they made during the process. The report, for instance,
contradicts the frank contributions they made following the inspection
visit at the private residence of the President.

The EFF's decision to take the matter relating to the Nkandla security
upgrades to the Constitutional Court is a right that any person or party
enjoys under our constitution, and we are hopeful that it would bring to an
end unnecessary disruptions and sloganeering in the National Assembly.
We are hopeful that contesting the matter in Court would do them good,
as Courts make judgment on the basis of facts, evidence and cogent legal
arguments, not sloganeering, rowdiness and stunts which the EFF has
become synonymous with.

We reaffirm the legal and constitutional legitimacy of the ad hoc

committee. It would have been a gross dereliction of constitutional duty if
Parliament failed to initiate a process to formally consider the report of
such national importance.

ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ANC CHIEF WHIP