Councillor Peace Mabe finally instructed to leave the building

28 November 2016

I am gratified to have the presiding officers of Parliament concede the point of order I raised during a Joint Sitting of the House on 24 November, ruling that former ANC MP, Peace Mabe, has indeed been masquerading as a Member of Parliament.

Mabe was sworn in as a councillor in Mogale City on 18 August 2016, thus relinquishing her membership of the National Assembly as is clearly articulated in Section 47(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:

“Every citizen who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly is eligible to be a member of the Assembly, except – permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces or members of a provincial legislature or a Municipal Council.”

Despite this provision, Mabe has continued to defraud the people of South Africa by indulging in MP privileges. This is a clear breach of Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members Interests. As a consequence, I have lodged complaints with The Acting Registrar: Members Interests on 1 September and 13 October, respectively, pointing out her abuse of members’ facilities and privileges.

It is now incumbent on the National Assembly to ensure that Mabe return any and all salaries received since 18 August, as well as reimbursing all benefits, including flights and accommodation.

It is unfortunate that it took the presiding officers so long to rule on such a simple matter. Nevertheless, we are pleased that Mabe has been instructed not to show her face in the Legislature again.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, 28 November 2016