Share

Zuma's excessive secrecy 'worrying' - Kasrils

Johannesburg - The "excessive secrecy" of President Jacob Zuma and government departments is worrying, former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils has said, according to Sunday's Rapport.

"There has certainly been an increase in secrecy since Jacob Zuma became president. It is extremely worrying," he was quoted as saying.

"The public and any reasonable person understands that there are some state issues that cannot be published, but it should be the exception to the transparency rule, and it should be made clear why information is being withheld."

The president and government departments have recently remained quiet about the details and cost of Zuma's recent trips to China and Russia.

According to Rapport, in the last few months Zuma used a luxurious Boeing 727-200 to fly to America, Russia, China, and Australia because the official presidential jet, the Inkwazi, was being serviced.

According to the report, Zuma's trip to America in 2011 with the same jet cost taxpayers R6m. Zuma refused to say in Parliament what his trips abroad cost.

Kasrils said the increasing secrecy was absurd and that ministers were following the example Zuma set with secrecy around upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

"If the highest authority is guilty of a lack of transparency, it will obviously open the floodgates," he told Rapport.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 558 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 802 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.88
+0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.86
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE