DA accuses Songezo Zibi of gatekeeping PIC scandal documents

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Songezo Zibi, of blocking Members of Parliament (MPs) from accessing key documents on Public Investment Corporation (PIC) scandals.

However, RISE Mzansi says that “there is no basis to Burke’s claims of PIC documents being withheld,” adding that documents were allegedly processed and sent to Members of the Committee, including Burke, in electronic format.

The PIC is an asset management firm wholly owned by the South African government that invests funds on behalf of public sector entities, such as the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), and the Compensation Fund.

It is one of the largest asset managers in Africa, with over R3 trillion in assets under management.

However, on 15 October, DA MP Dr Mark Burke accused Zibi of “stonewalling attempts to access crucial documents related to scandals at the PIC despite multiple requests from MPs.”

Burke said that four weeks ago, Zibi’s office took possession of a stack of hard copy documents from the PIC in response to questions MPs asked three months ago.

“Zibi bizarrely agreed to the documents being couriered instead of scanned. Now only Zibi is asking the PIC for electronic versions. This all could have been an email – back in July,” said Burke.

The PIC’s investments have occasionally drawn scrutiny for governance lapses, including a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that exposed irregularities in various deals, setting a precedent for ongoing oversight concerns.

“This dossier may include various forensic reports related to the PIC’s disastrous investment and oversight of Daybreak Foods and updates into investigations related to former and current officials,” added the DA MP.

In 2015, the PIC bought Daybreak Foods for R1.19  billion. By 2017, it took full control, installing its own management.

Initially hailed as a BEE success, financial issues emerged, with multimillion-rand irregularities by 2022. Despite board and leadership changes, debts over R140 million and operational collapse continued, with four CEOs in four years.

Burke said that the DA requested access to the documents in mid-September, followed by additional requests made in person, via text, and subsequently via email.

“Under Zibi as chair, SCOPA is doing important and time-consuming work on the RAF. In general the public deserves to be spared the melodrama of parliamentary admin.”

“However, when a chairperson turns into a gatekeeper impeding the ability of elected officials to scrutinise a three trillion Rand state entity – we should be concerned.”

He accused the chairperson of “either neglecting or refusing to provide access to files that are not his private property, but which belong to the public.”

Outbursts of a single MP cannot dictate Committee work – RISE Mzansi

RISE Mzansi, whose leader is Zibi, took great exception to the public statement, saying that “there is no basis to Burke’s claims.”

In a subsequent statement, the party said that SCOPA has been focused on an enhanced oversight inquiry into the multi-billion-rand Road Accident Fund (RAF), which has diverted time and resources to this work.

Nonetheless, the party said that PIC documents were processed and sent to Members of the Committee, including Burke, in electronic format.

The party said that Burke has established an “unacceptable behavioural pattern marked by disrespect” and temperamental outbursts.

On Tuesday, the party said that he “harangued Mr Zibi in front of other MPs,” prompting another MP to intervene, only to also receive Burke’s alleged verbal, and nearly physical, lash.

He has also previously threatened “to engage in fisticuffs with a SCOPA Member during a broadcast meeting,” for which he was called to order, said the party.

The party said that Zibi has raised this with the Federal Leader of the DA, John Steenhuisen, and strongly implores him to manage his Member, as this conduct is not “honourable.”

“RISE Mzansi supports the work of SCOPA and its Chairperson and will not allow the work of Parliament and its Committees to be dictated to or sullied by the childish outbursts of a single MP,” said the party.

The party stresses that diligent and ethical parliamentary work is time-consuming and requires patience and maturity. “It is not microwave politics or child’s play.”

SCOPA member ActionSA MP Alan Beesley told Newsday that as far as he is aware, “Zibi has not intentionally withheld PIC documents from MPs who sit on SCOPA.”

“What I can confirm is that the behaviour of Marke Burke is often deplorable, and he needs some serious introspection as to how he relates to others.”

“Chairperson Zibi has always chaired SCOPA with a high level of integrity, and any attacks on his integrity are spurious,” added Beesley.

Burke said Zibi’s denial was “blatantly false,” showing unanswered requests for access to PIC documents since September.

He accused Zibi of delaying, sending incomplete files lacking forensic reports, and evading direct questions.

Burke also described Zibi as “condescending” during their recent committee exchange.