Opposition MP's bay for absent ministers' blood
Cape Town – When President Cyril Ramaphosa famously said "send me" in his state of the nation address, it apparently did not include sending his Cabinet to Parliament.
On Thursday afternoon, not a single member of Cabinet was present in the National Assembly for members' statements, one of the ways in which Parliament exercises oversight over the executive.
Furthermore, the only deputy minister (deputies are not members of cabinet) present was Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, who is an NFP member.
Thursday's sitting started with speaker Baleka Mbete saying she sent a letter to deputy president and leader of government business David Mabuza, who was also absent on Thursday, to raise her concern over ministers failing to appear for question sessions.
This after beleaguered Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba and International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu were both absent during a session on Wednesday where they had to answer questions.