Following unauthorised expenditure worth R80-million forming part of the expanded fraud and corruption investigation against Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it will push for the urgent establishment of a Portfolio Committee to oversee the Presidency.

Over a month ago revelations emerged about Ntshavheni‘s alleged R2.5-million dealings during her time as municipal manager at the Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality in Limpopo.

“The fact that President Ramaphosa has dilly-dallied for so long on this most serious matter of a corruption accused and investigated Minister in his Cabinet, underscores how urgent it is that Parliament have a Portfolio Committee overseeing the Presidency,” said DA spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard.

She pointed out that Parliament’s Rules Committee decided last year on a committee to oversee the Presidency, as part of the recommendations of the Zondo Commission.

“A vote on this issue, for Parliament to vote it into being, will ensure such matters in the Presidency are not left without oversight,” she said.

The party has again called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Ntshavheni.

Barnard pointed out that Ntshavheni had not publicly defended herself, and the seriousness of the accusations.

“Minister Ntshavheni has full access into the most secret of secret dealings of the State Security Agency for so long as she stays in office. Having written to the President calling on him to fire her weeks ago, all that has emerged in reply is an acknowledgment of receipt,” she said.

The party expressed concerns that Ramaphosa was well known to be very close to Ntshavheni, who served as the Cabinet spokesperson.