The Democratic Alliance (DA) called on Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to immediately step down following revelation that a Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation into her conduct as municipal manager of Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality, involving R2.5-million in tender corruption, is ready for prosecution.

Failing which, President Cyril Ramaphosa must relieve her of her duties, the party said.

The DA also called on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to now proceed with their criminal prosecution of Ntshavheni.

“She cannot serve as Minister in this portfolio (or any), while under such a serious criminal investigation. As the Democratic Alliance, we repeat: A Cabinet Minister criminally investigated for corruption should not serve in Cabinet,” said DA spokesperson on State Security Dianne Kohler Barnard.

In addition to claims by senior managers in Ba-Phalaborwa implicating Ntshavheni, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke made scathing findings against her management of the local municipality's finances during her tenure.

In 2020, Judge Gerrit Muller of the High Court in Polokwane called the events surrounding the tender "repugnant and devastating” and asked that it be investigated by the Hawks to be handed over to the NPA.

Barnard pointed out that this is yet another example of an African National Congress (ANC) Minister in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet who he needs to remove for allegations of corruption.

“…either he was not aware of these allegations, which would be an indictment in itself, or he was aware, which would raise damning questions as to his duty of care as head of the executive,” she noted.

Barnard said members of the executive must be fit for purpose, and beyond reproach.

She pointed to former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane, who was linked to the VBS scandal, saying instead of stepping down or being relieved of her duties by Ramaphosa, she was redeployed to the Department of Human Settlements to oversee a R33-billion budget.

Meanwhile, Barnard claimed that as time goes on Ramaphosa’s Presidency required thorough oversight.

Last year the party introduced a resolution to establish a Parliamentary Committee to oversee the Presidency.

She noted that a committee in Parliament to oversee the Presidency also stemmed from recommendations made in the Zondo Commission Report and was not only endorsed by the DA but received cross-party consensus in Parliament – except for the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party.

“When the Nationally Assembly votes on the resolution, it will be telling whether the ANC stands with accountability or prefers the Presidency to continue to act behind closed doors,” the DA said.

SUSPENSION

Meanwhile, ActionSA called on Ramaphosa to suspend Ntshavheni, following allegations of fraud and corruption against her.

ActionSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said, worryingly, Ntshavheni joined a growing list of Ramaphosa’s confidants and Ministers under criminal investigation for fraud and corruption, highlighting a “troubling pattern of the President’s failure” to exercise due diligence when appointing individuals to critical positions within his government.

“Ntshavheni’s impending run-in with the NPA creates a clear conflict owing to her stewardship of the State Security Agency, necessitating that she be suspended,” explained Trollip.

ActionSA said it believed that, as the custodian of South Africa’s intelligence services and apparatus, Ntshavheni ought to be beyond reproach and given the allegations of mismanagement, fraud and corruption she faces, her continued role as the responsible Minister was simply “untenable”.

ActionSA will closely monitor developments around the NPA’s decision to prosecute Ntshavheni to ensure that both her and Simelane are held accountable without fear or favour.