Hon Deputy Speaker, neither the hon Minister nor we can intrude, nor do we wish to do so, on the prosecutorial independence of the NPA, but there are things that both he and we can do under the National Prosecuting Authority Act.
My question is whether he will use his section 33 powers to ask for reports on and reasons for what appears to be an emerging pattern of politically motivated withdrawal of charges in Kwazulu-Natal. Such a request may prompt a section 22 review, which the National Director of Public Prosecutions can undertake, or an investigation which he can use for such purposes.
We, Madam Deputy Speaker, certainly intend to use our section 35 powers to hold the NPA to account for the withdrawal of charges in the "Amigos" case against KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Nkonyeni and MEC Mabuyakhulu.
Charges of bribery have been provisionally withdrawn in the case of the businessman, Mr Toshan Panday. Can the hon Minister, in a second answer, confirm whether a relative of President Zuma is involved in business with Mr Panday?