Cape Town - The DA has welcomed the amendment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the regulations governing the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture to allow for employees of the commission to be hired by law enforcement agencies upon the expiry of the inquiry into state capture.
In a government gazette published on Tuesday, Ramaphosa granted the commission employees permission to share information at their disposal with the country’s law enforcement agencies.
On Wednesday, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said her party welcomed the long-overdue amendments to regulations which now allows the commission to share information, records or documents directly with any local law-enforcement agency.
"The ball is now in the court of the Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to access the information and testimonies before the Commission, and to act against those who have been implicated in the grand scale looting of the state," Breytenbach said.
She noted that the Zondo Commission began its work in August 2018, but there have been no arrests or prosecutions of implicated persons based on information revealed in testimonies because the commission was prohibited from sharing information obtained in the course of its work.
"The DA, therefore, believes that these amendments gazetted by the president on Tuesday is a step in the right direction and we trust that it will jolt the Hawks and the NPA into action to investigate and prosecute those who aided and abetted in selling our country out to the highest bidder.
"Instead of having their day in court, those responsible for looting of our state coffers have been awarded lucrative government positions by Luthuli House," Breytenbach said.
"We hope that the amended regulations will open the floodgates for all those implicated to be held accountable for the crimes they committed at the expense of the South African people," she added.
Political Bureau