Gigaba
19 February 2009
Deputy Home Affairs Minister notes the Public Protector's report.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has noted the report by the
Public Protector on the lack of co-operation in the probe into allegations of
misappropriation of public funds.
He wishes to set the record straight in that he was fully supportive of the
inquiry by the Public Protector. "This was the only opportunity through which I
could clear my name and would therefore have offered my full co-operation to
the investigation," said Gigaba.
In response to a letter from the Public Protector in November 2007, the
Deputy Minister wrote to the Public Protector that he was willing to co-operate
with the investigations. In the letter he advised that he was unable to provide
the Public Protector with detailed responses on the allegations raised in his
letter before establishing the facts. He then requested his office to conduct
an audit so as to establish exactly what happened and take remedial action
where necessary.
The Deputy Minister was the first to acknowledge and correct the error that
resulted in the payment of flowers from the official account and the matter has
since been resolved.
It is unfortunate that the Public Protector did not deem the corrective
action taken by the Deputy Minister's office as sufficient.
Gigaba feels relieved that he has been exonerated relating to travel
expenses incurred by his office, which were found to be unfounded by the Public
Protector's probe. Although saddened and hurt by this unsubstantiated
allegation, he regards the matter closed.
The Deputy Minister remains committed to clean governance and respect the
decisions of the Office of the Public Protector.
For more information contact:
Bayanda Mzoneli
Deputy Minister's Spokesperson
Cell: 082 888 8613
Enquiries:
Siobhan McCarthy
Cell: 082 8866 708
E-mail: Siobhan.McCarthy@dha.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Department of Home
Affairs
19 February 2009
Source: Department of Home Affairs (http://www.home-affairs.gov.za)
