AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC C REPORT
23 June 2004
PUBLIC PROCTOR'S SPECIAL REPORT NO. 26

1. Introduction On 28 May 2004 the Public Protector submitted a report to Parliament in terms of section 182(1 )(b) of the Constitution, and section 8(2)(b) of the Public Protector Act, 1994. The Ad Hoc Committee on Special Report by the Public Protector was appointed by a resolution of the House on 3 June 2004 in terms of NA Rule 214.

2. Terms of reference The committee first met on 9 June 2004 to consider and report on the Special Report by the Public Protector on an investigation of a complaint by Deputy President J Zuma against the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the National prosecuting Authority, and to report to the House by 25 June 2004.

3. Approach
a) In considering the report, the Committee strove to endure that the integrity of Parliament is upheld; b) The Committee also agreed on the importance of upholding the integrity of the two offices, that of the Public Protector and hat of the National Director of National Prosecutions; c) The report was discussed as presented, and no additional evidence outside the report was considered.

4. Findings
After considering the findings contained in the report, the Committee's position was as follows:
24.1: The Prosecuting Authority is accountable to Parliament h respect of the exercising of its powers and the performance of its functions and duties; Finding accepted.
24.2: The Prosecuting Authority is also accountable to Parliament for its decisions regarding the institution of prosecutions;
Finding accepted.
24.3: The Minister and the National Director were constitutionally obliged to cooperate with the Public Protector in the investigation of the complaints of the Deputy President; Finding accepted.
24.4: The reluctance and failure by the Minister and the National Director to cooperate with the Public Protector in the investigation was improper and unconstitutional It resulted in the Public Protector having to conclude the investigation without the benefit of proper responses by those implicated by the complaints of the Deputy President;
Finding noted.
24.5: The press statement made by the National Director on 23 August 2003, that there is a prima facie case of corruption against the Deputy President, but that he would not be prosecuted, unjustifiably infringed upon Mr Zuma's constitutional right to human dignity and caused him to be improperly prejudiced;
Finding accepted.
24.6: The press statement (referred to in paragraph 24.5 above) was unfair and improper;
Finding accepted.
24.7: The Deputy President had probably (emphasis added) not been informed by the Minister and the National Director of the criminal investigation against him shortly after it commenced, as was publicly claimed by the National Director; Finding noted.
24.8: As the Minister was replaced in the Cabinet after the 2004 elections, it would serve no purpose to make any recommendations to Parliament Th regard to his improper failure to cooperate with the Public Protector
Finding accepted.
24.9:The provisions of section 31 of the NPA Act that established a Ministerial Coordinating Committee have not been implemented.
Finding accepted.
24.10: The steps taken by the President to attend to the remarks made by the Hefer Commission in regard to the leaking of confidential information by the Prosecuting Authority should be commended. The recommendations made by the investigators and the instructions given by the President in this regard, are supported.
Finding accepted.
5-Public Protector's Recommendations
In terms of the provisions of section 1 82(1)(c) of the Constitution and section 6(4) (c) (ii) of the Public Protector Act, it is recommended that Parliament take urgent steps to:
25.1Ensure that the National Director and the Prosecuting Authority are held accountable, by virtue of the provisions of sections 41(1) and 181(3) of the Constitution and section 35 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998, for

6.Recommendations
After due consideration of the Public Protector's recommendations recommends that the House:
a) Calls on all organs of state to recommit themselves to uphold and promote the principles f co-operative government as well as the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights;
b) Expresses its disapproval of the public statement made by the National Director of Public Prosecutions on 23 August 2003 which infringed the Deputy President's constitutional right to human dignity, tnereby causing him to be improperly prejudiced;
c) Calls on the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the prosecuting Authority to observe the prosecution Policy and comply with the Code of Conduct for Members of the National prosecuting Authority, in compliance with sections 21 and 22(6)(a), respectively, of the National Prosecuting Authority Act;
d) Calls on the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to ensure that the provisions of section 31 of the National Prosecuting Act, providing for the establishment of a Ministerial Coordinating Committee, are implemented without delay, and to report to the National Assembly within 60 days.
e) Calls on the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to convene a meeting between the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the Public Protector to resolve any differences that might exist between the two institutions and to ensure the development of effective measures which will enhance cooperative relations between the two institutions and report to the National Assembly within 60 days.
f) Calls upon the Minister for Provincial and Local Government to introduce, without delay, the legislation referred to in section 41(2) of the Constitution to establish or provide for structures and institutions to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations and provide for appropriate mechanisms to facilitate intergovernmental disputes, and to report to the National Assembly within 60 days.
g) Calls on the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to take immediate steps aimed at establishing an effective system of information security within the Prosecuting Authority, and to report to the National Assembly within 60 days.
h) Recommits itself to exercise effective and pro-active oversight over organs of state that are accountable to it.