Johnathan Paoli
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has confirmed that the government has put certain measures in place in order to effectively deal with the scourge of corruption within the country.
Mashatile was answering questions from Members of the National Assembly on Thursday and said fighting crime and corruption remains a top priority for the ANC government.
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube asked Mashatile to provide clarity concerning certain allegations levelled against him as well as his connection to controversial businessman, Edwin Sodi, who is currently on trial related to a R255-million Free State asbestos scandal.
In response Mashatile said that answers will be provided as soon as possible, and hopefully next week.
“I have received questions from the Ethics Committee after a complaint was lodged with Parliament, and I will be responding to those questions which are the issues she’s raising. Gwarube can wait for that moment, I have been given 7 days so those responses will definitely come to the house next week,” Mashatile said.
Asked what the key interventions that the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is planning to implement in order to combat the prevailing high levels of crime in the country.
Mashatile replied by outlining the Cabinet’s adoption of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) in March 2022, as well as development of the Increased Crime Prevention and Combating Action Plan (ICPCAP), which has been incorporated into the National Policing Strategy (NPS) and seeks to give effect to government’s commitment towards using an inclusive approach to addressing crime and violence.
“We remain determined to intensify our efforts to fight crime, and root out corruption, and all its causes. We do so guided by the fact that we are a constitutional democracy, and do not interfere with the constitutional mandate and laws governing the work of our law enforcement agencies,” he said.
When asked on the status of the case against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Mashatile said it would be premature to expect her immediate resignation, both in terms of her duties as Speaker and her right to being considered innocent until proven guilty.
Mapisa-Nqakula is currently seeking an interdict preventing the state from arresting her on allegations of soliciting and receiving bribes of more than R2 million and a wig during her tenure as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
“The Speaker of Parliament is cooperating with law enforcement agencies. You may be aware, that she has on a number of occasions said that if she is to be charged on these alleged offences, she will step down. My approach is that, let us give those processes an opportunity so that we can know exactly what is happening,” Mashatile said.
Mashatile was asked on the government’s encouragement of business partnerships in order to fight unemployment and replied that through initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the government was contributing to the effective creation of jobs in the country.
“The ANC-led government is committed to forge ahead with long term partnerships across all sectors to pave the path for a dynamic, competitive, fast-growing economy capable of competing with the best in the world while producing much-needed jobs,” Mashatile said.
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