Motlanthe must intervene in Police Minister's disregard for Parliament
The DA was bitterly disappointed at the Minister of Police's empty tick-box exercise in the Police Portfolio Committee this morning. We have no option but to write to both the Leader of Government Business, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to express our utter dissatisfaction with the way in which Nathi Mthethwa treats Parliament.
The Minister asked to brief the Portfolio Committee on Police today on the recent media reports of police brutality. He then came empty handed. Instead of concrete action steps, the Minister delivered nothing but platitudes.
Minister Mthethwa claimed that they intend to introduce and implement a multi-faceted approach to provide a lasting solution to the levels of police brutality, but failed to detail exactly what this would be. I specifically asked about the recommendations made in the National Development Plan on demilitarisation and a review into the culture of the SAPS, but the Minister conveniently ignored the questions.
The Minister failed to answer most other questions with any detail but made sweeping generic statements about training, code of conduct and improving command and control.
If we wanted generic statements then we would look at his press releases.
This is not the first time that the Minister has failed to answer questions by Members of Parliament, effectively preventing us from conducting oversight and holding government accountable.
The DA has previously drawn attention to the fact that the Minister fails to provide satisfactory replies to parliamentary questions. He also regularly fails to attend oral question sessions and sends his deputy in his place. Or, as happened recently, another Minister altogether.
Deputy President Motlanthe, in his capacity as Leader of Government Business, must stand up and instruct the Minister of Police to treat Parliament with respect. It is our constitutional duty to hold him accountable, and his duty to respond fully and transparently.
The Minister did not earn his salary today.
Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, March 26 2013
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