Public Protector to investigate Nene
The Public Protector has agreed to launch a probe into the conduct of the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene.
This comes after Democratic Alliance’s (DA) David Maynier wrote to Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s office asking it investigate whether Nene had breached any of the executive code of ethics.
The breach is alleged to have happened while Nene was head of the Public Investment Coporation (PIC).
“The alleged breach of the executive code of ethics relates to allegations surrounding a Public Investment Corporation investment in S&S Refinarias, which reportedly included a US$ 1.7 million referral fee, which may have benefited the minister’s son, Siyabonga Nene,” Maynier says.
Nene is also at the centre of a political storm after admitting to meeting with the controversial Gupta family a number of times.
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Opposition parties are calling for Nene’s head, saying the head of Treasury needs to be beyond reproach.
Nene admitted, while giving testimony at the commission of inquiry into state capture, that he had visited the Gupta home and work place no less than six times when he served as deputy finance minister and at the beginning of his tenure as finance minister.
"With regard to the scope of the investigation we will look into whether there was any impropriety on the part of the minister," says the Public Protector’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe.