Cape Town – Parliament cannot be a dumping ground nor a "thank-you playground for the failed and caught out, but loyal Zuma yes men", the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
"Media reports today [Sunday] indicate that there is a good chance ex-Transnet CEO and disgraced ex-Eskom CEO Mr Brian Molefe is set to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) after the 9 February 2017 opening of Parliament," DA spokeswoman Natasha Mazzone said.
Following the African National Congress modus operandi of shuffling loyal cadres around leadership positions in South Africa's state-owned entities (SOEs) allowing them to earn extravagant "thank you for your obedience" bonuses, this was a step too far, she said.
Molefe, who was found to be at the very nerve centre of state capture in the public protector's "State of Capture" report, was simply not fit to hold office in Parliament.
As an incoming MP Molefe would have to swear loyalty to the Constitution and put the people of South Africa first, not President Jacob Zuma or his administration.
The DA had laid criminal charges against Molefe for the roles he was alleged to have played in state capture. Further reports emerged last week involving locomotives that were purchased by Transnet which were allegedly highly problematic. This would just add to the number of scandals Molefe had under his belt while holding the most senior positions in SOEs.
"Molefe was found to have had 58 telephone interactions with [politically connected] Ajay Gupta between August 2015 and March 2016.
His GPS records also indicate that he was in the Saxonwold area, home to the Gupta family estate, on many occasions. This spurred the now infamous 'Saxonwold Shebeen' story that when called out on caused Molefe to break down in tears at a press conference.
"The South African public must be able to have full faith in those who run and manage its SOEs, but most importantly, in the MPs who represent them in Parliament. Parliament cannot be a dumping ground nor a thank you playground for the failed and caught out but loyal Zuma yes men," Mazzone said.