Hon Speaker, Cope supports the position of the Public Protector with regard to the report being final and that she is not prepared to engage any office bearer of government to review it.
It is unacceptable for the Minister to reject any report from a Chapter 9 institution - let alone a report on a matter that was thoroughly investigated over a period of six months. This House should be informed why the Minister did not make use of at least five opportunities to comment on the draft report.
Is this perhaps some dogma of government which has come to believe that they are above the law and even the Constitution of the country? The Public Protector found the process of arranging the R500 million lease agreement for the SAPS headquarters as fatally flawed.
She also made clear recommendations on steps that should be taken against officials in the Department of Public Works responsible for the fatally flawed lease agreement. The fact that damning findings were made is not a reason for any political pressure on that institution.
The responsibilities of the Public Protector have been determined by statute. What appears to be tension between the previous Minister of Public Works and the current incumbent can never be allowed to undermine the role of the Public Protector.
We as Cope demand an unequivocal statement from government that they will not interfere with the work of the Public Protector or any other Chapter 9 institution. If they are not willing to state that categorically, it means that this government regards itself above the Constitution of this country. Thank you.