SUNDAY TIMES STORY ALLEGING ANC CHIEF WHIP WANTS NEW RULE A FABRICATION
25 September 2016
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip is disappointed with the downright dishonest fabrications and shoddy journalism of Babalwa Ndenze, Sunday Times reporter, relating to the story published in the paper today on his interview with Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu. Ndenze's Sunday Times story, headlined "ANC wants new rule to protect president", makes a wild and baseless claim that the ANC Chief Whip "wants to change parliament's rules to create new measures to defend President Jacob Zuma against abusive MPs - before his next visit to the National Assembly".
This is blatantly untrue. At no point during the long interview Ndenze had with the Chief Whip was such a remark made. The whole interview was put on tape, and Ndenze cannot produce any record proving that the Chief Whip indeed said those words. Ndenze's story is wholly based on sensationalized inventions, which he will have an impossible task to prove when the matter is reported to the press ombudsman this week.
In response to Ndenze's question seeking the ANC Caucus' view on the disruptions that broke out during President's appearance in Parliament to reply to questions, the Chief Whip emphasized the need for all parties to commit to the supremacy of the House rules and the importance of enforcing the existing rules to deal with disruptive elements. Recently, the National Assembly adopted new overhauled set of rules.
The new rules, amongst others, deal with disruptive conduct and provide comprehensive guide regarding appropriate steps to be taken against unruly MPs. It is therefore inconceivable that the Chief Whip would have called for a new rule to deal with what is already thoroughly provided for in the existing newly adopted rules.
Following the President's plea to the House to afford him an opportunity to account to Parliament and to the people of South Africa without disruptions, we believe that the ball is now squarely in the court of the institution and parties to ensure a conducive environment for Parliament to exercise oversight over the President and his executive. Parliament is empowered in terms of the rules of the House and Constitution to invite the President to account through questions and answer session.
The President respects Parliament and his constitutional obligation to account to it, hence he has honoured all invitations to appear before it without fail. Allowing certain parties to continue abusing this crucial oversight mechanism by hurling profanity and demeaning insults at the President, instead of holding him accountable, will erode the institution's reputation and plunge it into a state of complete paralysis. In this regard, the Chief Whip has written to the parliamentary rules committee requesting it to ensure that the existing new rules are enforced. Parliament is a forum for exchange of ideas and a platform through which fearless oversight over the executive is exercised. Insults, derogatory remarks and profanity against those it invites to account does nothing to enrich our constitutional democracy and public discourse.
Parliament (including parties) has an opportunity to rehabilitate itself and conduct its function firmly in line with its own rules, the law and the Constitution or face complete erosion of confidence in its standing amongst the public. The recent Afrobarometer survey, which found 54% of those surveyed disapproved of the MPs' performance, is a serious indictment on this current parliament that has been characterized by constant disruptions and general acts of anarchy.
As parliament we must put our house in order if we are to be taken seriously by those who accounts to us.
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip will this week lodge a formal complaint with the press ombudsman to ensure that the Sunday Times publish a retraction and an apology regarding the unfair and damaging fabrications contained in Ndenze's story.
Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, 25 September 2016
