Speaker, Chapter 9 institutions are an integral part of our constitutional democracy and must be treated with appropriate respect. However, it is also incumbent on them to fulfil their roles with the integrity and circumspection befitting their offices. It is therefore regrettable that the Public Protector's investigation into the Nkandla upgrade has been allowed to become like a national soap opera.
After some queries expressed by the Public Protector about where the report should be tabled and impenitent rebutals from Luthuli House yesterday, the core findings of a purportedly still confidential report are front page news in the Cape Times today. The value and the integrity of an important report have unfortunately being compromised through inappropriate side shows and politicking.
This calls for sober reflection on the key role of the Public Protector, in order to ensure that investigations are conducted and their findings communicated, not only without fear or favour, but also without sensational gamesmanship.
The Public Works Minister has already informed Parliament that procurement irregularities in the Nkandla upgrade were identified and it seems that the Minister has more to tell Parliament. The President is on record in this House as saying that he had no knowledge of the public money spent on the upgrade of this personal property, and he shall be held to his word.
We cannot allow important constitutional entities to become victims of politics when election fever strikes. The role of this Parliament and that of the Public Protector to hold the executive accountable should remain the common denominator when we go into elections. The rational way forward is for all involved to lay their cards on the table, to stop the politics and to tell South Africans exactly where things went wrong. [Applause.]