Politics

Zondo Commission to Get R78m Funding, Set to Cost the Taxpayer

Wednesday, May 05, 2021 at 4:39 PM by Phumzile Ngcatshe

- The commission into state capture is set to receive R78 million from Justice Minister Ronald Lamola

- Although the cash boost is set to cost the taxpayer, Lamola said it’s important for the commission to finish its work

- Moreover, the commission chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is investigating corruption and Lamola said the commission will have to submit its findings

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Reports coming through to Briefly News is that the Commission into State Capture is set to receive cash injection as per an announcement by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.

Lamola made the announcement on Wednesday at the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee.

The minister also confirmed that the amount set to be injected into the commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will get R78 million to complete its mandate.

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The Commission into State Capture chaired by Dep. Justice Raymond Zondo will get R78m funding. Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Lamola’s pronouncement follows that of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni when he told parliament during his budget speech in February that he would not give the commission further funding. Said Lamola as quoted by TheSowetanLive:

“We want a situation where there is finality of the work of the commission of inquiry, we have already [allocated] a lot of money so we cannot abruptly end the commission's work. The commission has to end by giving us a report, that's the first thing we must consider.

“It is also in the hands of the chairperson of the commission of inquiry to ensure that it is so, and if there are difficulties, maybe he might raise at a certain point in time, what could have been the difficulties for them to finish.”

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The former African National Congress Youth League leader added that it’s very important for the commission to finish its job as it affected some of their programmes. He added:

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“We would want to see the commission finish its work because it also affects our programmes, because some of the money that we might have to find to help the commission, we have to cut from some of our programmes.

“We are beginning to feel the squeeze of resources, so it's important that it must finish its work.”

Moreover, NPA boss Shamila Batohi has echoed the minister’s sentiments, saying the investigators have the job to verify the information they receive from the commission. She said:

“The investigators have to verify the information that we receive as we know there is no cross-examination — well, limited cross-examination — before the commission.

“And so, as investigators, we have to anticipate those things. There is a lot more work that needs to go into the investigation after we receive evidence from the commission.”

Briefly News reported that ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe advised President Cyril Ramaphosa to set the truth free at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, 28 April.