In the past five years the Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid at least 10 criminal charges against government officials, including President Jacob Zuma, yet none of them have been handed over for prosecution.
News24 looked at a number of cases opened by the official opposition over the last five years.
When asked for an update on the cases, DA national spokesperson and MP Phumzile van Damme said the party had been following up on the cases.
“To date, there have been no arrests, let alone prosecution.
“We will be submitting parliamentary questions to the minister of police on each one of these cases for full feedback,” she told News24.
Van Damme said the DA was hoping that there had been no political interference in any of the cases.
Here is a list of some of the charges laid by the DA in the last five years:
- – In 2011 the DA laid criminal charges against convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik. This was after reports surfaced that he was still listed as a director of a company that was involved in the arms deal. His alleged directorship would have been in breach of the Companies Act. The charges were laid at the Johannesburg Central police station.
- – In April 2012, criminal charges were laid against a SA Democratic Teachers’ Union official in the Eastern Cape who allegedly tried to run over then-DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko. Sadtu’s Hewu branch chairperson, Honjiswa Mrwebi, was alleged to have tried to run over Mazibuko in Whittlesea, outside Queenstown, during a 12km walk. – In May 2012, DA national spokesperson at the time, Mmusi Maimane, laid charges of violence, intimidation and illegal gathering against Cosatu. This was after a clash between the DA and the trade union federation during a march in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The opposition party’s march began peacefully, but when they turned into Jorissen Street they were met by toyi-toying Cosatu members. Rocks and pieces of cement were thrown into the crowd during then-DA leader Helen Zille’s speech. Police had to use teargas and fire a high pressure water gun to break up the Cosatu crowd.
- – In June 2012, the DA laid charges against then-ANC Youth League deputy president Ronald Lamola in Mpumalanga for comments he made regarding land reform. Charges of incitement to violence were laid in Middelburg. At the time Lamola called for the expropriation of land without compensation at the Durban University of Technology. He said: “We need an act as forceful as war to bring it (the land) back to the Africans.”
- – In April 2013, the DA laid charges against former Communications Minister Dina Pule. The charges related to alleged corruption in appointments made at the department and its entities. Charges were also laid against then-SABC chief financial officer Gugu Duda; Phosane Mngqibisa, head of Khemano Events; and then SABC group chief executive officer Lulama Makhobo. This was after a report in the Sunday Times which contained allegations of nepotism and appointments of people on boards of the Post Office, Sentech, USSASA and the SABC.
- – In March 2014, Maimane laid corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma at the Nkandla police station. This was in relation to the security upgrades to the president’s private home in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This was after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report found that Zuma and his family “unduly benefited” from the upgrades.
- – Also in March 2014, the party and the Bekkersdal Concerned Residents Association laid criminal charges against the ANC. This was after it was alleged that ANC “bodyguards” had shot at unarmed people. At the time The Star newspaper reported that the bodyguards fired live ammunition at residents after they disrupted schooling. The Citizen newspaper carried photos of the episode.
- – In December 2014, the DA laid a charge of perjury against then-SABC board chairperson Ellen Tshabalala. This after Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications found she had lied about her qualifications in a sworn affidavit.
- – This year, the DA laid charges against police after five of its members were arrested outside Parliament hours before the State of the Nation address.
- – On Thursday, Maimane laid charges against former Passenger Rail Agency of SA CEO Lucky Montana and other functionaries of the agency. This followed the release of Madonsela’s report into allegations of maladministration.
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