DECISION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY AD HOC COMMITTEE

28 April 2014

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip welcomes the decision of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee, which was set up to consider the President's response to the report of the Public Protector on the Nkandla security upgrades, to refer the matter to the incoming fifth Parliament for consideration. The decision was adopted with the majority vote of MPs from the ANC and IFP (see video of proceedings of below).

The ad hoc committee agreed that, in the light of the huge workload before the committee pertaining to its mandate, the extreme importance of the matter under consideration and thoroughness with which the committee is expected to deal with it, the matter should be referred to the next Parliament for proper consideration. Indeed the Rules of the Assembly do provide for such a committee to be resuscitated with a similar mandate by the incoming Parliament.

The ANC agrees that attempting to hastily process such an important matter of huge public interest within the few remaining days before the fourth Parliament rises in terms of the Constitution would not be in the interest of quality, fairness and justice. Parliament has a responsibility to conduct its work thoroughly, professionally, transparently and openly to ensure that the outcome of its processes are of highest quality, integrity and enjoy the confidence of the people it represents.

The DA's insistence that Parliament rushes this matter within the shortest time available ahead of the 7 May election is certainly not in the interest of Parliament's constitutional obligations, but in the narrow interest of a misguided electioneering. It is certainly a self-serving attempt to abuse Parliamentary structures and processes for mere electioneering ahead of the 7 May election.

The ANC takes seriously the magnitude of the matter before the ad hoc committee and the necessity for this institution to do a decent job on it. It is for this reason that we will ensure that the next Parliament attends to this matter.

Statement issued by the ANC Office of the Chief Whip, April 28 2014

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