Pretoria - Government says there is no law in South Africa that prohibits anyone, including Cabinet Ministers, from visiting the house of any person they so wish.
Government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said certain ministers' offices had received media inquiries asking whether their ministers had been to the Gupta family's house or knew of any ministers who had been.
"Government views these questions as an irresponsible fishing expedition that amounts to the violation of the privacy of Ministers. Also, we find it highly irresponsible and beyond the scope of the media's role to monitor the private movement of Ministers. We do not have to elaborate on the security implications of this behaviour," Manyi said on Saturday.
He said South Africa is home to a free press, adding that freedom of association is a constitutionally enshrined right enjoyed by all citizens.
"The violation of the right to privacy and freedom of association because of the urge by some media to publish any hearsay as news and scandalize innocent relationships as corrupt is, in our view, devoid of ethical journalism.
"We hope that as journalists pursue stories they will responsibly make the determination as to what information is private, public or newsworthy," he said.
Last week, Cabinet expressed "shock and dismay" at media reports alleging improper and undue influence by the Gupta family over members of Cabinet.
Manyi explained at the time that there were Cabinet processes in place which ministers used when making decisions on matters. "No Cabinet member has to consult anyone outside of those processes when making decisions."
He said Cabinet wished to assert that while every South African and legitimate legal persona from anywhere in the world had the right to conduct business in South Africa, it strongly condemned the use of the names of President Jacob Zuma and Cabinet members in the pursuit of private business deals.
Manyi said Cabinet had urged those who may be doing so to stop the practice.
Cabinet condemned "name-dropping", saying it could not allow a situation where people used the name of the President or any Cabinet member in doing their business. "We cannot allow a situation where the integrity of Cabinet would be undermined by these people who go around name-dropping."
In a statement last Sunday, Dr Cassius Lubisi, Director General and Secretary of Cabinet said the Presidency had rejected allegations that the relationship between members of President Zuma's family and the Gupta family had impacted on the President's work in running Cabinet and the country. - BuaNews
