"Cape Town – The question of the classification of the report into President Zuma’s private Nkandla residence is back in the spotlight after Minister Of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele distanced himself from the classification of the report. “The report in question emanates from the work done by a Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Task Team appointed by the Minister of Public Works to probe various irregularities associated with the upgrade,” said Cwele’s spokesperson Brian Dube in a statement. “As the report is authored by the Task Team and owned by the commissioning Minister of Public Works, the Minister of State Security cannot classify or de-classify it or issue instructions to this effect,” said Dube. According to the statement by the Department of State Security the report was therefore classified by Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has consistently argued against the classification of the report under the Minimum Information Security Standards Policy, which they argue is not law, and therefore cannot be used to classify a report. According to the DA the classification of the report as confidential is thus invalid. “Thulas Nxesi can go to Postnet and buy a red stamp that says Top Secret, he can write Top Secret all over the report but that does not classify it as legally confidential,” said DA Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko speaking on the Midday Report on Radio 702 on Tuesday. Mazibuko further noted that Nxesi implied in Parliament that the report was classified by the Department of State Security. Nxesi said a week ago that because of the report’s classification it would not be made available to Auditor-General Terence Nombembe or Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, both of whom are investigating so called ‘Nkandlagate.’ Image – Uncyclomedia Commons "
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:02:57 +0000
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