(1) With reference to his statement on 11 May 2023 in response to allegations by the United States ambassador, Mr Reuben Brigety, that the Republic provided materials of war to the Russian Federation, stating that he has appointed an independent investigation into the matter to be led by a retired judge, (a) on what date did he first hear that there were allegations of war materials having been loaded on the Russian vessel, Lady R, at Simon’s Town Naval Base in December 2022, (b) what did he do about it then and (c) on what date did he first ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans to brief him on the serious issue;
(2) whether he had sight of the ship manifest of Lady R; if not, (a) why not and (b) what are the reasons that he appointed an independent investigation by a retired judge instead of asking the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans to furnish him with the information he requires; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) on what date is it envisaged that the independent investigation will be completed, given that this is an urgent matter where the global reputation and trade benefits of the Republic are at stake?
I have appointed an independent panel to enquire into the circumstances of the docking of the Russian vessel known as Lady R in Simonstown in December 2022. The enquiry was established because of the seriousness of the allegations, the extent of public interest and the impact of this matter on South Africa’s international relations.
The inquiry has to establish the circumstances that led to ...
Whether there was any credible intelligence on which he relied when he employed the SA National Defence Force for a month until 17 April 2023 regarding the national shutdown that was held on 20 March 2023; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, is such a threat still existing?
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was authorised to deploy in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) under Operation Prosper in preparation for protests planned for 20 March 2023. This deployment was at the request of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which determined that the SANDF would be required to deploy for the protection and safeguarding of National ...
(1)Whether he has ever commissioned a formal costing exercise to determine the total cost to the taxpayer of all benefits for Ministers and Deputy Ministers contained in the Guide for Members of the Executive; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether there is any specified legal provision on which he relies to implement the Guide for Members of the Executive; if not, what is the reason that he continues to implement its provisions ultra vires; if so, which legal provision?
A cost analysis on the staff establishment was done by the Department of Public Service and Administration and the National Treasury in respect of the Guide for Members of the Executive. The outcome of the analysis revealed a cost reduction to the State.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has similarly done a cost analysis with regards to ministerial residences.
The National Treasury ...
(1)What were the reasons for declining the request for a special funeral for Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes;
(2) whether there is a precedent in recent history when the Government declined such a request; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) who was the artist and (b) what were the reasons?
The granting of honours is at the discretion of the President.
There have been requests for special funerals in the past that have been declined. However, out of respect for the families involved, it would be inappropriate for the Presidency to divulge the names of individuals on whose behalf official funerals were requested and declined.
Whether he has found that the amount of R166 562 058 that will be spent with regard to the employment of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) for one month up to 17 April 2023 in anticipation of violent protests that did not materialise was justified; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what justification is there for the costs of the one-month employment of the SANDF in light of the peaceful protests that only lasted for one day?
The expenditure for the employment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to safeguard and protect National Key Points and critical infrastructure was justified. The deployment of the SANDF in support of the SAPS provided the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies with adequate capacity to create conditions in which the protests organised for 20 March 2023 were conducted in a safe and ...
Whether he will furnish Dr L A Schreiber with a list of all the international trips undertaken by each (a) Minister and (b) Deputy Minister that he approved in terms of Chapter 6 of the Guide for Members of the Executive since 1 March 2018; if not, why not; if so, on what date;
(2) whether any international trips that were not personally approved by him were undertaken by any (a) Minister and/or (b) Deputy Minister since 1 March 2018; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. Attached are lists of international trips undertaken by each Minister and Deputy Minister from 2018 to 2023 that were approved by the President.
2. There is no record of official trips abroad by Ministers or Deputy Ministers during that period that were not approved by the President or Acting President.
(1) What are the details of the outstanding legal issues that he needs clarity on before he can appoint a permanent SA Broadcasting Corporation Board of Directors;
(2) whether there are provisions of the Broadcasting Amendment Act, Act 4 of 2009, on which he relies in delaying the appointment; if not, on what exactly does he derive the authority to delay the appointment; if so, what are the relevant details?
In terms of the Broadcasting Act sections 1 and 13, the President is the appointing authority, who appoints the members of the SABC Board on the Advice of the National Assembly. In terms of the President’s oath of office and sections 83, 84(1), 84(2)(e) and 237 of the Constitution, he must uphold and respect the Constitution, and perform his responsibilities diligently and without delay. ...
By what date does he intend to appoint the new board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation?
In terms of the Broadcasting Act sections 1 and 13, the President is the appointing authority, who appoints the members of the SABC Board on the Advice of the National Assembly. In terms of the President’s oath of office and sections 83, 84(1), 84(2)(e) and 237 of the Constitution, he must uphold and respect the Constitution, and perform his responsibilities diligently and without delay. ...
Considering that in 2019 he committed to unbundling Eskom, an urgent imperative if inadequate transmission capacity is to be resolved, what are the reasons that the unbundling of Eskom has been delayed?
Eskom is continuing to work on implementing the legal separation (or unbundling). This is a key strategic priority of Eskom’s Turnaround Plan as envisaged in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Roadmap.
In line with the roadmap, the corporatisation of the transmission function was completed in December 2021. A legally binding merger agreement was entered into between Eskom and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the National ...
Whether, he was briefed by his national security advisor, Mr Sydney Mufamadi, and the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, who report directly to him about the identities of the two Cabinet Ministers who allegedly direct the cartels that have been raiding Eskom’s coffers after they were made aware by the former Chief Executive Officer of Eskom, Mr André de Ruyter, in the presence of one of the advisors of the Minister of Public Enterprises at Eskom’s head office on 5 July 2022, of the names of the two Cabinet Ministers who are alleged to be implicated in corruption at Eskom; if not, what action will he take to hold the individuals who report to him accountable for withholding crucial information from him about one of the biggest crises in the Republic; if so, (a) on what date, (b) by whom and (c) what did he do with the information?
I was not briefed about the identities of people who are allegedly involved in cartels in Eskom.
In terms of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, I am advised that Mr De Ruyter is a “person who holds a position of authority” as the Chief Executive Officer of Eskom and therefore bears a duty to report corrupt transactions to ...
