By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says, it will fight President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to hide from the public the report into alleged weapons smuggling to Russia.
Ramaphosa intends to classify the report of the inquiry into whether arms were loaded onto the Russian Lady R in Simon’s Town last December.
The decision to establish the panel came after US Ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of loading ammunition onto a Russian ship at Simon’s Town last year.
DA leader John Steenhuisen released a statement on Sunday following the revelation Ramaphosa intended to conceal the independent panel’s findings.
Steenhuisen has accused Ramaphosa of being aware “of incriminating information that he wants to hide from public view to protect his ANC government”, saying this explained his “sudden” announcement.
The DA has since submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act request to gain access to the panel’s terms of reference.
It has also sought legal advice on challenging the decision, stating the DA would not allow Ramaphosa to hide the truth.
Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa doing so would “undermine the ability of prosecutors and the public to hold guilty parties accountable for any such violations of the law”.
He added the president’s decision would impact the rand and South Africa’s global standing.
“Hiding this report from public view will rob the people of South Africa – and of the world – from the opportunity to see the full facts of this matter.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the terms of reference for the inquiry would not be gazetted or published.
“The investigation covers issues of national security and classified information, which is protected from disclosure,” he said.
Magwenya added Ramaphosa had instituted an investigation by an independent panel which is chaired by a retired judge, and it was not a commission of inquiry.
“This inquiry has been instituted in a similar manner the inquiry that investigated the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and the value of its report remains unchallenged.
“The panel will be supported in gathering the information that is necessary to fulfil its mandate by letters from the president instructing all relevant government entities as identified by the panel to cooperate fully with the panel or face disciplinary sanction,” he said.
It will be led by retired Deputy Justice Phineas Mojapelo, advocate Leah Gcabashe, and former justice minister Enver Surty.
The panel will finalise its investigation into the allegations within six weeks of its appointment. The panel may request an extension of this time frame should it be necessary.
South Africa has been at pains to maintain its non-aligned stance over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and has abstained in the voting in successive resolutions on the matter before the UN General Assembly.