The work of the executive was “99% done” and the Nkandla report expected from Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko should be ready for Parliament by next week, Speaker Baleka Mbete said on Thursday.

She told Parliament’s programming committee that as soon as the report was “physically here”, an ad hoc committee on Nkandla would be formed to process the report.

“It should not be later than next week,” she said.

Nhleko was tasked by a previous ad hoc committee on Nkandla to determine President Jacob Zuma’s liability for non-security upgrades conducted at his home in KwaZulu-Natal. The minister has gone on record saying that he completed his report before the March 30 deadline.

Since then, Parliament has been in consultation with Cyril Ramaphosa – in his capacity as leader of Government Business – to make sure that all the recommendations made by the ad hoc committee were addressed by members of the executive.

Various discussions about the next step have also taken place between Mbete and political parties. The discussions led to United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa raising objections and withdrawing from the parliamentary process dealing with Nkandla. He accused Mbete of attempting to censor the report. She has denied this.

Baleka said it was vital that the report was comprehensive.

“We can’t talk for them [the executive]. The impression I have is that we are almost there. It is good to be positive,” said Mbete.

Two weeks ago Mbete assured the programming committee that the report had “not disappeared”.
“I just cannot say that I believe that on such and such a day, it [the Nhleko report] will be here,” she said.

The controversial Nkandla matter has dragged on for more than a year since Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that the president and his family had unduly benefited from the R246-million upgrades. She recommended that he pay back a portion of money for the upgrades.

The delays prompted Democratic Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen to quip at the programming meeting this morning: “The report has taken longer to come out than George Michael.” News24