EFF slams indefinite delay of Madlanga Commission of Inquiry as 'pretend accountability'

Cape Talk and 702's Mandy Wiener chats to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson and Member of Parliament, Sinawo Tambo.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticised the indefinite postponement of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into alleged police capture, calling it a reflection of a lack of political will. 

The Commission, originally due to start next week, has placed the blame on the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for the delays, claiming they had failed to meet the procurement deadlines.

The Justice Department is responsible for all procurement and costs related to the Commission.

A budget of R147.9 million has been allocated for the establishment of the Commission, which is expected to run over the course of six months and possibly even longer.

"We are not surprised that there's been this delay. We had said that this Commission, that has been established at that time in the context where Senzo Mchunu was placed on special leave, which the Constitution of South Africa does not make provision for, was nothing but an attempt to ease the anxieties of the people of South Africa and a pretence at action."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

"Something we must all remember as people of South Africa right now, while all of this chaos is happening and this Commission is suspended indefinitely, Senzo Mchunu continues to draw a Minister's salary, he continues to retain security,  continues to stay in a ministerial house and retain all of those benefits because on his special leave none of these are going to be revoked."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

"Perhaps of more concern, is that we should all think about in terms of state capacity, there's no existing infrastructural capacity to host a simple commission of inquiry, and procurement needs to be done for things of that nature, which we should have readily available infrastructure for."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

Tambo says the delay confirms the EFF's long-standing belief that the Commission was launched without serious planning or intent. 

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• South Africa suffering from ‘commission fatigue’ - Lawson Naidoo, Council for Advancement of SA Constitution
• Six months to complete Madlanga Commission? Not long enough, says top lawyer 

"It's a reflection of incompetence, but also a lack of seriousness on all fronts."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

"It's a mere political ploy for Cyril Ramaphosa to continue to protect a political ally in Senzo Mchunu."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

"Our only faith right now lies in the Adhoc Committee in Parliament, which thankfully does not rely on funding from the Department of Justice to conduct its work."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.