Ethics Committee anything but ethical
16 March 2016
Note to Editors: The following statement was delivered by the Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance,John Steenhuisen MP, during a media briefing at Parliament.
It has become obvious that the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests (The Committee) has been turned into an ANC political hit squad with a mandate to besmirch opposition members and their reputations while protecting members of the ANC in Parliament.
The Committee’s Chair, Amos Masondo, has presided over it in an overtly partisan manner since his appointment, targeting members of the opposition and violating basic procedures, all the while protecting the ANC in Parliament. A fine example is when last year, at least two attempts to raise the Public Protector’s report Derailed which directly implicated ANC MP, Puleng Mabe, in The Committee were dismissed because Mr Masondo thought that the 385-page report was “too big” to print.
On multiple occasions Mr Masondo has provided the press comment and details on the Committee's hearings despite his oath of confidentiality. Often DA members under investigation by The Committee have only heard of developments when they appear in print or when called for comment.