Guptagate probe to widen

Published May 9, 2013

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Pretoria - Auditor-General (A-G) Terence Nombembe’s office is to apply “internationally recognised auditing standards” when probing the Gupta plane fiasco, because it is in “national interest”.

Nombembe’s office said he would also include the findings in this year’s audit report to Parliament.

In a letter to DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard, the A-G’s head of national audit, Tsakani Maluleke, confirmed that her office would be investigating the matter. Her letter was copied to public finance watch-dog Scopa chairman Themba Godi and defence oversight committee chairman Malusi Motimele.

“We acknowledge receipt of your (Kohler Barnard’s) letter dated May 2013 requesting the above investigation and for which letter we thank you. We have noted from the media that various impacted departments, including the Department of Defence, have instituted their own internal investigations into the matter,” said Maluleke.

The illegal landing at the Waterkloof Air Force Base of a civilian plane ferrying guests of the Gupta family caused a stir and political fallout last week. It angered a significant section of the public, Cosatu, opposition parties and even the ANC. Critics demanded that those who authorised the landing of the Airbus A330-200 at a national key point be sanctioned.

The saga divided cabinet members too and led to questions being asked about President Jacob Zuma’s relationship with the Gupta family.

Nine officers from the Tshwane Metro Police Department were arrested for allegedly abusing the SAPS cars and blue lights. They allegedly escorted the politically connected Guptas’ wedding guests from Waterkloof to Sun City in North West without authorisation.

Affected government departments have launched probes.

Maluleke said the A-G would study the findings of the probes and follow an approach “based on internationally recognised auditing standards, in view of national interest in this matter”.

“We will include it in our 2013/14 regulatory audit. Findings thereon, if any, will be included as part of our audit report to Parliament.”

The Gupta debacle was also raised during Wednesday’s defence portfolio committee meeting, chaired by Motimele.

Committee members didn’t seem to see eye to eye during the meeting, after Motimele declined to allow any discussion on “Guptagate”.

He ruled it “out of order”, leading to complaints from DA MP David Maynier.

Maynier said the meeting was told that the report by the team of directors-generals, appointed by the cabinet to probe the plane scandal, would be ready on May 15.

Speaking to the Pretoria News after the meeting, Maynier said that defence secretary Sam Gulube had insisted that any information about defence acquisition was “not for public consumption”.

The nine Tshwane Metro Police officers who were part of the security detail for the Guptas’ guests have had until Thursday to explain why they should not be suspended. They were served with intention-to-suspend letters by the metro police department on Tuesday.

Metro police spokesman Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said on Wednesday investigations would proceed once all the officers had responded to their letters. Mahamba stated on Tuesday that the metro police had not received a request to help at the Gupta wedding.

A metro officer, who did not wish to be named, said the officers come from different regions in the Tshwane Metro Police Department, and their job was to provide a VIP security service to the members of the mayoral committee.

“They are ordinary members who are out to make extra money,” he said. According to the officer, moonlighting is not allowed, “but this practice takes place in the metro police”.

One of the country’s most respected institutions, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, has joined the chorus of outrage at the plane saga. Neeshan Balton, the foundation’s executive director, said the issue was of “national concern”.

Pretoria News

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