DA wants minister to disclose key points

SUPPLIED

Dianne Kohler Barnard

Cape Town - The DA on Monday said it will make sure Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa provides a full list of national key points.

Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard has rejected acting Police Minister Siyabonga Cwele's refusal to provide the list because of security concerns.

“It is vital that this list is provided to the portfolio committee on police so that Members of Parliament may conduct their mandated oversight role and hold the government accountable,” she said.

The apartheid-era National Key Points Act had not been open to scrutiny, despite taxpayers' money being used for their protection.

“We know that the money is being used and personnel are being paid, but we cannot hold government accountable for the use of this money unless we are given the full details,” said Kohler-Barnard.

She included security upgrades to President Jacob Zuma's private home at Nkandla, which cost taxpayers around R206 million.

Furthermore, attempts were being made to declare additional sites national key points.

The 2013/2014 SA Police Service budget indicated that there would be 197 national key points by 2015/16 - an increase of 15 from 2012/13.

The national key points fell under the police budget line item government security regulator, which would receive R91.5 million this year.

Kohler-Barnard said she would ask members of the committee to summon Mthethwa so he could hand over a list of key points.

“In terms of section 56(a) of the Constitution and rule 138 of the National Assembly, the National Assembly or any of its committees may summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents,” she said. - Sapa