9 February 2009
The Department of Correctional Services wishes to condemn the distortions
peddle and comments made by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee against
Minister Ngconde Balfour as irresponsible.
His comments demonstrate gross misunderstanding of the basic tenets of our
constitutional democracy, particularly the doctrine of separation of powers
between the executive and the legislature, when he suggests that the Portfolio
Committee should have been consulted before finalisation of the nutrition
tender.
Mr Bloem's relentless pursuit of allegations of ministerial interference in
tender processes without an iota of evidence to back his claims is intended to
damage the image and the character of the Minister.
Despite assurances of the Minister of Public Service and Administration to
the contrary, the Chairperson insists on finding the Minister guilty of or
responsible for the cross transfer of Heads of Departments of Sport and
Correctional Services in October 2008.
Mr Bloem's call for a commission of enquiry to probe allegations of
corruption in Correctional Services is in essence a veiled "vote of no
confidence" in the independent Special Investigating Unit (SIU) commissioned by
Correctional Services at a cost of about R13 million per annum.
Beginning to communicate with Correctional Services only through scathing
media articles graphically shows the extent of degeneration in relations
between these two critical institutions of governance. Mr Bloem's continued
claims that the department was approached by his committee to report on the
nutrition tender cannot be further from the truth. Another profoundly incorrect
conclusion articulated with astonishing arrogance despite knowing the truth is
a claim that SIU investigation of the major tenders was initiated by former
National Commissioner Petersen.
The Department is also greatly disappointed when a supposedly "informed
member of parliament" fails to provide the evidence he has to law enforcement
agencies to ensure that justice is done, instead decides to ride the waves of
media sensation by making unsubstantiated claims against the Minister only to
the media.
The timing of the onslaught against the Minister without evidence at the
time of wrapping up the work of the third democratic government is very
interesting. The peddlers of these allegations have the guts to launch another
campaign while they never apologised to the Minister for their irresponsible
comments after he was cleared by the Ethics Committee of Parliament for
allegedly receiving a VW Touareg gift from BOSASA.
Correctional Services has unequivocally committed itself to fight fraud and
corruption without fear of favour with concrete evidence demonstrated by our
contracting of SIU to get to the root of the allegations. We have committed
ourselves to deal decisively with anyone fingered and found guilty of
committing fraud and corruption.
Another demonstration of this commitment of the Department, National
Commissioner Xoliswa Sibeko, has asked the SIU to do a quick evaluation and
auditing of the recently finalised nutrition tender. The SIU is expected to
submit a report this week, after which the National Commissioner has undertaken
to report to the nation through the media on its findings.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Tel: 012 305 8204/5
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
9 February 2009
