DA will challenge Speaker's Nkandla Committee stalling tactics
08 June 2014
Last Thursday the DA finally received a response from the newly elected Speaker, Baleka Mbete, regarding our request to establish a new Nkandla ad hoc committee (see below).
The DA urged the Speaker to establish the ad hoc committee before Friday 6 June 2014 and allow it the appropriate scope, time and resources to conclude its work. It is a poor reflection on the Speaker, that on a matter as urgent as this, she waited 14 days to reply.
I will write a letter to The Speaker, challenging her assertion that it is the National Assembly's duty to establish a new ad hoc committee. The Speaker adjourned the National Assembly following her election on 21 May, more than two weeks ago, which exceeds the prerequisite 14-day state of adjournment required for her to create the committee cited in her letter.
It is deeply concerning that the Speaker has decided to adopt a hands-off approach on such a crucial matter by merely leaving it to the House to decide. She should be leading from the front, encouraging its formation, not trying to delay the process any further.
As the new Speaker, Baleka Mbete must now separate any sense of loyalty or duty to Luthuli House and honour her obligation to Parliament and the intentions of her predecessor, Max Sisulu, to allow the 5th Parliament to create a new committee and finish the work the 4th Parliament's committee was not able to.
Parliament has a responsibility to act on behalf of the people in fighting corruption and maladministration. The DA will not allow the Speaker or the ANC in Parliament to brush the Nkandla scandal under the carpet.
Text of the letter from Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the National Assembly, to James Selfe MP, June 4 2014:
4 June 2014
Mr J Selfe, MP
Democratic Aliance
Parliament of South Africa
PO Box 15
CAPE TOWN 8000
Dear Mr Selfe
Request for the re-establishment of ad hoc committee on the President's response to the Public Protector's report
Your letter dated 21 May 2014 on the above matter has reference.
In terms of your request that I should "re-establish' the Ad Hoc Committee on the President's response to the Report of the Public Protector I must point out that an ad hoc committee may first only be established by resolution of the Assembly or where an ad hoc committee is established by the Speaker, this can only be done if the Assembly is in adjournment for a period of 14 or more days and after consulting the Chief Whip and most senior whips of each of the other parties.
As you are no doubt aware, in terms of the rules of the Assembly the previous Ad Hoc committee has ceased to exist. While the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by the Assembly of the Fourth Parliament forms part of the official records of the Assembly, this report lapsed on 6 May 2014 in terms of Assembly Rule 316(2).
It would therefore be for the National Assembly of the Fifth Parliament, and not the Speaker, to take any decision on how the matter should be dealt with.
Yours sincerely
Signed
B Mbete MP
Speaker of the National Assembly
Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Chairperson of DA Federal Executive, June 8 2014
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
