The African National Congress (ANC) component of Parliament’s justice committee on Thursday refused to apologise to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for the hostile treatment she received in the committee in the past year‚ and wanted to deal only with her office’s budget.
Before Ms Madonsela made her budget presentation‚ Democratic Alliance MP Werner Horn said it would be remiss of the committee to simply proceed as normal because of the failures of Parliament identified in last week’s Constitutional Court judgment.
He said the committee owed Ms Madonsela and her office an apology due to the finger pointed at the justice committee in the judgment and the fact that National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has expressed regret over the personal remarks aimed at Ms Madonsela in the committee last year.
Committee chairman Mathole Motshekga said the committee was not referred to in the judgment and added: “I don’t want political disputes coming into this meeting.”
Mr Horn received strong support from African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart‚ who also referred to Ms Mbete’s expression of regret.
“I at the time objected to the hostile way she was treated‚” he said‚ adding that an apology was needed in order to restore the relationship between the committee and the public protector.
ANC MP Bongani Bongo said the committee was not meeting to deal with an apology to Ms Madonsela‚ but to deal with the budget of her office and also “there is nothing to apologise for”.
ANC MP Charlotte Pilane-Majake agreed and urged that the committee continue with its work.
Mr Motshekga said there were a diversity of ideas and advised members to choose the right forum to air their views‚ and then proceeded with the work of the committee without tendering an apology. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/BDlive
ANC members on justice committee say there’s no need to apologise to Madonsela
Before Ms Madonsela made her budget presentation‚ Democratic Alliance MP Werner Horn said it would be remiss of the committee to simply proceed as normal because of the failures of Parliament identified in last week’s Constitutional Court judgment.
He said the committee owed Ms Madonsela and her office an apology due to the finger pointed at the justice committee in the judgment and the fact that National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has expressed regret over the personal remarks aimed at Ms Madonsela in the committee last year.
Committee chairman Mathole Motshekga said the committee was not referred to in the judgment and added: “I don’t want political disputes coming into this meeting.”
Mr Horn received strong support from African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart‚ who also referred to Ms Mbete’s expression of regret.
“I at the time objected to the hostile way she was treated‚” he said‚ adding that an apology was needed in order to restore the relationship between the committee and the public protector.
ANC MP Bongani Bongo said the committee was not meeting to deal with an apology to Ms Madonsela‚ but to deal with the budget of her office and also “there is nothing to apologise for”.
ANC MP Charlotte Pilane-Majake agreed and urged that the committee continue with its work.
Mr Motshekga said there were a diversity of ideas and advised members to choose the right forum to air their views‚ and then proceeded with the work of the committee without tendering an apology. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/BDlive
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