Where is Pillay Commission report?

What has happened to the ad hoc committee on the Pillay Commission report?

The committee had been chaired by Phumulo Masualle until he was appointed MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs and the Provincial Treasury but since his departure the committee has not met.

The committee was to have reported on August 26 when the Bhisho Legislature had been scheduled to sit but that session was postponed until Tuesday September 9 and at the moment it doesn’t look like a report will be tabled then.

An ad hoc committee viewing the report of the Pillay Commission is likely to question the legitimacy of the report and also raise issues around the reasons why Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela appointed the commission.

The ad hoc committee in terms of a motion introduced by ANC whip Neela Hoosain and adopted by the legislature was required to:

• Consider the process of receiving the rep ort by the Legislature – it was only submitted to the Speaker after a motion demanding this had been passed
• Consider the report against the background that the Premier and Executive must be accountable to the Legislature and must therefore consider the report with due regard to the funds that the Legislature has voted to fund the commission
• Consider the report, the findings and the recommendations thereof, the appropriateness thereof for implementation by the Executive and investigate the steps taken by the Executive to implement the recommendations of the commission and
• Consider the terms of reference of the commission and to what extent they have been complied with.

In addition, the committee must look at the Eastern Cape Commissions Act and assess whether it should be amended “to make provision for improved transparency and accountability in the appointment and terms of reference of and reporting by commissions”.

Sections of the controversial commission report that was tabled yesterday were leaked to the media suggesting that a number of high-profile politicians generally associated with those opposed to a third-term for President Thabo Mbeki had been involved in corrupt activities.

The politicians were not provided with the opportunity to reply and have instituted legal action.