Public Protector lays charge against State Security Minister
Public Protector (PP), Busisiwe Mkhwebane has laid a criminal charge against State Security Minister, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, on Wednesday.
Mkhwebane alleges Letsatsi-Duba's failed to make available a declassified a document pertaining to an investigation into former Finance Minister and current Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan.
The PP’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe says the document is required to establish whether Gordhan violated the Executive Ethics Act.
"In terms of section 7(4)(a) of the Public Protector [Act], read with section 7(5) of the same legislation, the Public Protector has the power to direct any person to submit an affidavit or appear before her to give evidence or produce any document, which has a bearing on a matter under investigation,” explains Segalwe.
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“Section 11 of the Act provides that any person who without just cause refuses or fails to comply with a direction of request under section 7(4) referred to above or refuses to answer questions put to them under that section or gives answer which they know to be false shall be guilty of an offence."
Segalwe says should someone be convicted of the offence, they will be liable to pay a fine not exceeding R40,000, or face imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months, or both.
Segalwe says Letsatsi-Duba's failure to avail the document undermines the office and its work.