AS IT HAPPENED: Parliament not satisfied with NPA answers on Gupta investigation delays
2018-03-07 11:00
The joint portfolio committee that summoned NPA head Shaun Abrahams to Parliament to answer for the sluggish investigation in the Estina/Vrede dairy farm state capture case remains dissatisfied with Abraham's answers, and will call another meeting.
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14:24
12:47
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The meeting adjourns, with everyone agreeing there is much more work needed to resolve any of the issues raised today.
"We will get another date, we will get the two ministers, including the former minister of police, then we'll take this process forward," the committee chairperson concludes.
12:43
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All MPs present are now wrapping up their thoughts on today's proceedings, and are of the opinion that another joint committee meeting is required to come to any sort of resolution, or take the process forward.
#Motshekga : Says as a committee we should agree to invite the Executive authority in their next meeting. #StateCapture
Joint committees of police and justice not happy with #ShaunAbrahams's answers, will call minister of justice Michael Masutha, former police minister Fikile Mbalula and new police minister Bheki Cele @TeamNews24
Abrahams now facing another round of questioning by MPs on the committee.
12:28
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#Abrahams : Says the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) have always submitted cases and we do not prosecute all of them. #StateCapture
ICYMI: EFF MP Sibonakaliso Mhlongo's heated delivery while addressing NPA head Shaun Abrahams in Parliament.
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12:24
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Abrahams denies assertions that the NPA is politically captured.
#Abrahams : Says that the NPA is not politically captured only individuals who are and many prosecutors have given their lives to serve the country and fight crime. #StateCapture
Abrahams: "I did not delay any arrests. I do not make decisions as to who should be arrested, or who should not be arrested. This is part of the misinformation narrative that has been put out there and it is completely incorrect."
Abrahams says he cannot divulge "critical information" in public or in Parliament until the investigation has run its course, when MPs argue that Abrahams has not satisfactorily answered their questions.
12:07
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NDPP #ShaunAbrahams: "No one against who there is a prima facie case will be left of the hook. Nobody will escape justice in this matter." #StateCapture@TeamNews24
#Abrahams : When it comes to politicians and others the case is still going on and more arrests will be made and no one will escape justice. #StateCapture
Abrahams: "I implore on everybody, allow the investigative processes to take place."
Asked why no politician has been arrested, NDPP #ShaunAbrahams implores everyone to allow investigative processes to take place #StateCapture@TeamNews24
"Spare us the lecture," Abrahams is told by the committee chairperson. Abrahams was responding to the accusations of "selective prosecution".
Another MP addresses the chairperson and says Abrahams needs to remember that he is now in Parliament, and he is not at the NPA, where he may be the head.
#Abrahams : With the foreign Nationals that are linked with the State Capture, we can't apply for their extradition of the Estina case only because we wont be able to charge them with other crimes that they are involved in. #StateCapture
Abrahams now takes the opportunity to respond: "Let me start by dispelling the misperception in terms of the briefing that I made... I certainly had no intention, or for perception to be created, that I've thrown, the proverbial throwing of General Matakata under the bus."
"That certainly was not the intention at all. It was merely a report that I have been given about historical facts... I wanted to give a rendition of that."
"We have a very great working relationship... I truly value the relationship that we have."
NDPP Shaun Abrahams: "I had no intention to throw General Matakata [acting Hawks head] under the bus." #StateCapture@TeamNews24
Matakata, in reference to working with the NPA: "I think we are both clear about our mandates and therefore the working relationship that needs to exist between the two entities."
Matakata insists she is not at loggerheads with the NDPP.
11:34
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MPs have now completed their round of questioning, and Matakata takes the opportunity to respond to all the issues have been raised first. Answering issues related directly to the Hawks.
#Matakata : I will respond to issues relating DPCI so that I may be able to give clarity on certain issues. #StateCapture
The meeting continues and the co-chair #Motshekga, says that as chairs they respect members full rights to speak and we allow them to speak but we should be mindful of time so that the agencies may respond. #StateCapture
Four more MPs still have to direct their questions to Abrahams and Matakata, but the portfolio chairperson calls for a 10-minute tea break. Proceedings will resume after the short break.
11:10
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Mhlongo: "Honourable chairperson, I hope you are not trying to intimidate me..."
ANC MP objects to 'political speeches' from EFF MP, but the EFF MP insists on his rage as justified given the cost to South Africa of #StateCapture. He is clearly riled, citing problems the inaction by policing & prosecuting agencies had for his home region.#SAPolitics2018
Second EFF MP riled and ired by the record of inaction by state organs on criminals in cases of corruption which he traces to the highest office under former President Zuma as he confronts #NPA's Adv Abrahams in parliament.#SAPolitics2018#StateCapture
Another EFF MP, Sibonakaliso Mhlongo, takes a swipe at Mosebenzi Zwane who is still a member of Parliament, and "as a member of Parliament we are compelled to address him as honourable member... but what is honourable in a dishonourable man?"
10:58
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EFF MP questions the independence of #NPA under Shaun Abrahams from political interference, questioning Adv Shaun Abrahams in parliamentary committee on #Estina dairy farm component of #StateCapture.#SAPolitics2018
EFF MP says #ShaunAbrahams "went with supersonic speed" to charge Pravin Gordhan, and NPA went with "supersonic" speed to charge DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, but with the Guptas' Estina they delay for further financial analysis. @TeamNews24
An EFF MP accuses Shaun Abrahams and the NPA of "selective prosecuting". Says the NPA moved swiftly in other matters, like prosecuting former state prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach.
Breytenbach, a DA MP now sitting on this very same joint portfolio committee, has since been acquitted of all charges.
MP to Abrahams: "People get arrested for being suspects all the time, while the investigation is ongoing...I'm not entirely satisfied with this notion around special cases."
MP Kohler-Barnard reminds Adv Abrahams that he must wait for his turn to speak in his appearance before the parliamentary committee on #Estina dairy farm component of the #StateCapture investigation. She asks the chair to remind him of the rules of engagement. #SAPolitics2018
DA MP's Glynnis Breytenbach and Dianne Kohler Barnard said #ShaunAbrahams threw acting Hawks head Yolisa Matakata under the bus. #StateCapture@TeamNews24
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach says it was obvious that the Guptas, Jacob Zuma and his son Duduzane are "special cases" and "flight risks".
"The Guptas, and at least Duduzane Zuma, are widely known to have assets abroad - considerable assets abroad - homes abroad, access to private aircraft, they travel extensively, they might, on their own admission, have more than one passport..."
"You would impose serious restrictions on their ability to travel and to move..."
"It's impossible that these people could not have been considered flight risks" but nothing was done to limit their ability to leave the country.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach says nothing was done to prevent flight of Estina suspects. "It is painfully obvious this entire process has been politically driven." #ShaunAbrahams#StateCapture@TeamNews24
DA MP Werner Horn asks #ShaunAbrahams why NPA didn't proceed with Estina case in December, asked if they were waiting for outcome of ANC election "to see which way the wind will blow in 2018". #StateCapture@TeamNews24
Members of Parliament sitting on the joint portfolio committee are still framing their questions to Abrahams and Matakata based on their opening statements.
Matakata says she did not throw Abrahams under the bus.
Hawks acting head Yolisa Matakata says there isn't a stand off between her and NDPP Shaun Abrahams and she didn't throw him under the bus with her comments on Estina investigation @TeamNews24
Abrahams on raid at Gupta compound in Saxonwold: "All those arrested appeared in court and were granted bail. The matter has now been postponed to August 2018, for the finalisation of the investigation."
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