I DO NOT APOLOGISE FOR DOING MY JOB

An appalling precedent was set today in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. A report of the Privileges and Ethics Committee was adopted without a written copy being placed before members, with a disputed recommendation that I apologise to the House and to former Health MEC Brian Hlongwa for statements that I made about his purchase of a R7.2 million house in Bryanston where Mr Richard Payne, the Managing Director of 3P Consultants acted as his representative.

The Democratic Alliance rejected this report, but it was adopted when the ANC voted for it. The only document that was tabled before the House was the report of Advocate Jules Browde, the Legislature's Integrity Commissioner, on which the committee had deliberated.

Hlongwa was called on by the Speaker to apologise, which he did, but only for the late declaration of his new house in the register of members' interests. He made no apology for having Payne represent him publicly in the negotiations over the purchase of the house.

I was called upon to apologise, but I responded that I would not apologise for doing my job and asking the awkward questions. I then walked out in protest.

This move by the ANC today is an attempt to curtail my freedom of speech in bringing possible corruption to public attention.

I will continue asking questions about 3P Consultants as I did today in the House. Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu disclosed that 3P was suing her department for R22 million for services allegedly delivered, and also for the cancellation of their three year R273 million contract.

According to Mahlangu, 3P claim that their contract should have been automatically renewed for two years, which I find very strange.

I support Mahlangu in this court case. She should also probe how such a disadvantageous contract was signed in the first place.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng spokesman, September 15 2009

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