Speech Delivered on the Public Protector’s Report regarding Petro SA by Lance Greyling
2006-01-05. The Independent Democrats objected to the adoption of this report for a number of reasons. Although we do not question the integrity of the Public Protector we do question his defining of his mandate not to investigate what happened to the money after it was given to Imvume. We also were not satisfied that the consultative processes were wide enough in that the Mail & Guardian was not called to give evidence even though it is quoted widely in the report.
The Committee did state in its report
that it undertakes to follow up on the processes to ensure that the
outstanding amount owed by Imvume is recovered. The Independent
Democrats believes that the best way of recovering that money is simply
for the ANC to give the money back. Although there might be debates
about public versus private money and whether Imvume actions
constituted fraud, which ID believes they did, there is simply no
denying the fact that the money was not used for its intended purpose.
The ANC should therefore feel an ethical and moral obligation to give
the money back, particularly since it has been so outspoken about
corruption in recent times.
I thank you!
I thank you!
