PARLIAMENT'S APPROVAL OF THE NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip will recommend that the Minister of State Security extends the term of office of the current serving Inspector General, Mr Zola Ngcakani, with two months to allow the National Assembly an opportunity to approve his predecessor when Parliament reconvenes early in 2010.

Parliament could not approve the recommendation of Ms Faith Radebe for the post of Inspector General during its final sitting on Thursday, due to its inability to form a quorum, as required by the Constitution.

Given that yesterday was the final sitting of the two Houses of Parliament for this year, MPs across all political parties had to deal with the challenge of split focus due to a number of parliamentary obligations that required urgent finalisation before Parliament rose.

Speculations that the delay in the appointment of the new Inspector General was due to a lack of support from opposition parties are incorrect. All political parties were canvassed during the Multiparty Chief Whip's Forum on Wednesday and have, without exception, undertook to support the appointment of Ms Radebe.

Failure by some of the MPs to vote in the House, due to the challenges we have mentioned, is a matter party leaders expressed regret over, during their interaction with Chief Whip, Dr. Mathole Motshekga late yesterday.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, ANC Parliamentary Caucus, November 12 2009

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter