Adjunkspeaker, die VF Plus verwelkom die aankondiging van President Zuma dat die Spesiale Ondersoekeenheid korrupsie gaan ondersoek en dat dit die polisie gaan insluit.
Hierdie ondersoek moet egter nie net handel oor die tydperk van die vorige hoof van die polisie, Jackie Selebi, nie maar moet ook alle diensverskaffersooreenkomste insluit wat aangegaan is sedert die aanvang van genl Cele se termyn in Junie 2009.
Die VF Plus het 'n klag by die Openbare Beskermer ingedien en 'n antwoord van haar ontvang dat sy ondersoek sal instel na die sluit van die R500 miljoen huurkontrak vir 'n nuwe polisiehoofkantoor.
Die feit dat die kontrak deur die Departement van Openbare Werke geteken is, verskoon egter nie genl Bheki Cele se rol nie, aangesien die behoeftebepaling vir akkommodasie deur genl Cele gevalueer en onderteken is. Genl Cele kan hom dus nie verskoon van hierdie transaksie nie.
Daar bestaan geen regverdiging vir die prosedure wat gevolg is om nog 'n gebou op 'n dringende basis te bekom nie. Daar is tans 'n huurkontrak in plek vir die polisie se hoofkantoor. Slegs nadat hierdie huurtermyn ten einde gekom het, behoort 'n nuwe gebou betrek te word. Belastingbetalers se geld gaan nou gebruik word om twee huurkontrakte vir twee geboue vir die polisie te betaal.
Die regering moet egter nie net stop by die instel van ondersoeke na korrupsie in sekere staatsdepartemente nie. Amptenare wat betrokke is by korrupsie, ongeag hul posisie en politieke lojaliteite, moet vervolg word.
Hierdie vervolging moet nie net beperk word tot die amptenare wat korrupsie gepleeg het nie, maar moet ook geld vir amptenare wat in bestuursposte is en moet toesien dat amptenare die korrekte prosedures volg met die toekenning van kontrakte aan diensverskaffers. Dankie. (Translation of member's statement follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD (FF PLUS): Deputy Speaker, the FF Plus welcomes the announcement by President Zuma that the Special Investigation Unit will investigate corruption and that this will include the Police.
This investigation should, however, not only cover the period of the former head of Police, Jackie Selebi, but should also include all agreements with regard to service providers which have been made since Gen Cele took office in June 2009.
The FF Plus has submitted a complaint to the Public Protector and received an answer from her that she will investigate the R500 million lease that was secured for a new head office for the Police.
The fact that the contract was signed by the Department of Public Works, however, does not excuse Gen Bheki Cele's role, as Gen Cele evaluated and signed the needs assessment for accommodation. Therefore, Gen Cele cannot excuse himself from this transaction.
There is no justification for the procedure that was followed to obtain another building urgently. Currently, there is a lease in place for the head office of the Police. A new building should only be moved into once this rental period has expired. Taxpayers' money will now be used to pay two leases for two buildings for the Police.
Government should, however, not only investigate corruption in certain government departments. Officials who are involved in corruption, regardless of their positions and political loyalty, should be prosecuted.
This prosecution should not only be limited to officials who commit corruption, but should also include officials at management level who should ensure that officials follow the correct procedures with regard to awarding contracts to service providers. Thank you.]