The United Democratic Movement (UDM) takes a dim view of the news that the whistle-blower’s statement against the former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was not disclosed to the task team that conducted the investigation into the allegations against her of extortion and corruption.
There could be no proper investigation without the whistle-blower’s statement and hiding evidence essential to a Parliamentary investigation is most unethical, if not almost criminal.
The co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) and the committee support staff seemingly ran a parallel process to the task team that was formally charged with investigating the matter and produced a sanitised report that completely discounted the answers to a set of questions posed to the whistle-blower.
These highly irregular acts have brought the JSCD and Parliament into disrepute.
It is worse considering that Ms Mapisa-Nqakula has been entrusted with the Speaker’s position, which under these circumstances is a role she is not fit to fulfil.
The actions of the JSCD co-chairpersons, Mr Mamagase Nchabeleng and Mr Cyril Xaba and the support staff must also be investigated by the relevant authorities at Parliament.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula must be placed on immediate leave, and the Deputy-Speaker must act until the investigation and its cover-up is satisfactorily investigated and resolved.
Issued by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
President of the United Democratic Movement
