President Cyril Ramaphosa
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will be summoned to appear before Parliament over conflicting reports on access to the Zondo Commission’s database by the Investigating Directorate.
This follows a report that the ministry was frustrating the access of the Investigating Directorate of the NPA to the database of the evidence from the Zondo Commission, a move that has prompted the NPA to subpoena evidence from the database.
Ministerial spokesperson Tsekiso Machike said the commission continued to supply and support all law enforcement agencies and other entities with data and information as and when requested.
“There is a secretariat that continues to manage the data centre and support all law enforcement agencies and other entities in accessing the database,” said Machike.
However, the NPA said it continued to engage the executive on the Zondo Commission digital database.
“The issue of the access to the Zondo Commission digital lab is primarily a technical one being handled between the NPA and Justice Department officials. The previous and current Ministers of Justice and Constitutional Development have been engaged and committed to attend to it expeditiously,” NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said.
But, parliamentary justice and constitutional development committee chairperson Xola Nqola raised concerns about the conflicting reports on the access to the Zondo Commission investigation database.
“Every South African wants to see justice in these matters and the money returned to the state coffers in order to alleviate the strain on the economy and our people,” Nqola said.
Nqola warned that the conflicting reports could lead to the public losing faith in the justice system and the country’s efforts to fight corruption.
“It is clear that the reports and the comments from the authorities are contradictory,” he said.
“It is for this reason that the committee will call the department and all the role-players to enlighten the Members of Parliament and the public on this very serious matter.
“The country’s reputation to deal with crime and corruption is at stake when allegations of this nature are circulated,” Nqola said.
Cape Times