Budget concerns raised for the Madlanga Commission

QUESTIONS have been raised regarding the financial planning for the Madlanga Commission following remarks made by former chief evidence leader, Advocate Terry Motau, regarding its inadequate budget.

- MANYANE MANYANE

The commission last week confirmed that Motau had stepped down from his role as chief evidence leader, adding that heleft the commission on good terms but did not provide reasons for his departure.

Speaking with Radio 702 last week, Motau revealed that he had tendered his resignation on September 11, following a discussion with commission leadership-central to his concerns was the lack of budget clarity.

Motau stressed that this was a lesson that should have been learned from the Zondo Commission, which ballooned past R1 billion in cost and left several legal professionals unpaid in its final months. He said the R147.9 million budget for the Madlanga Commission, announced by the government for this task, was insufficient to achieve the Commission's goals.

“Without clear budget line items, you cannot responsibly allocate tasks or avoid previous missteps,” he said.

The Commission's spokesperson Jeremy Michaels declined to comment on Motau’s claims.

In a statement on behalf of Justice Minister Mamoloko Kubayi, spokesperson Terrence Manase said the budgetary matters relating to the Commission have been properly managed and communicated, adding that at no point were formal concerns about the budget raised with the department.

Manase added that Motau was directly involved in the process of determining the fee structure for himself and his junior counsel.

He said from the R147.9m budget, R10.898m was allocated to pay commissioners, evidence leaders, investigators, researchers and secretariat staff.