By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament’s presiding officers have requested an urgent meeting with Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo over his recent public statement regarding Parliament’s role in the implementation of recommendations made by the Judicial Commission into State Capture.
Parliament labelled comments as “inappropriate”, while some opposition parties support Zondo.
“This meeting is intended to address matters of concern between the judiciary and the legislature, specifically in relation to recent public statements made by the Chief Justice regarding Parliament’s role in the implementation of the Judicial Commission into State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector, Including Organs of State,” said Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo in a statement.
“Recognising the importance of maintaining a healthy working relationship between the judiciary and the legislature, the presiding officers have sought this meeting as a platform for constructive dialogue.”
He added that Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Amos Masondo were “fully aware of their constitutional mandate and the need to collaborate and work harmoniously with the judiciary” and the meeting would be an important step towards strengthening the relationship between the judiciary and the legislature, “as well as fostering public trust and confidence in our democratic system”.
Twelve months after submitting the State Capture Commission’s final report, Zondo has hit out at lawmakers saying nothing has changed.
Addressing a Human Science Research Council symposium that analysed the state capture report’s impact on democracy on Thursday – a year to the day that the final instalment of the state capture report was released – Zondo defended his inquiry’s wide-ranging recommendations, which included the establishment of a commission to monitor state capture if Parliament failed in its legal duties.
Zondo went on to say that he’s worried that Parliament is incapable, his word, of preventing another bid to capture the state.
In October 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa submitted to Parliament the government’s plan for implementing the commission’s recommendations. However, little or nothing has been done and Zondo went as far as saying he did not think current MPs would be able to halt attempts to capture the state.
He said State Capture “unequivocally” placed the country’s democracy at risk.
Zondo proposed three solutions – electoral reform, an active citizenry and the establishment of a permanent anti-State Capture and anti-corruption commission that would operate in the same manner as the commission he chaired.
The Democratic Alliance said, ANC in Parliament have treated the State Capture Commission’s report and its recommendations with disdain and keep reminding people that these are mere recommendations and the institution isn’t bound by them.
It is clear that the ANC does not want to implement the recommendations of the Commission. The R1 Billion, which was spent on the Commission, and the years of work gone into the Commission has unfortunately proven to be a waste.