PHUTI MOSOMANE
SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has declined a meeting with suspended Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane regarding allegations of attempted bribery involving key ANC Parliamentarians.
Instead, Mapisa-Nqakula has advised Mkhwebane to formally file a complaint with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests.
These developments stem from Mkhwebane’s allegations of corruption within the Section 194 Committee, which is investigating her eligibility to hold office.
Over the weekend, Mkhwebane’s husband, Mandla Skosana, filed a case of extortion against ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina, Richard Dyantyi (chair of the parliamentary inquiry against the suspended public prosecutor), and Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
Skosana claimed that he was asked to provide R200,000 each to Joemat-Pettersson, Dyantyi, and Majodina in exchange for the impeachment proceedings being dropped.
In response to these allegations, Mkhwebane sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, requesting a meeting to discuss the claims confidentially and seek advice on how Parliament should proceed with an investigation.
Considering that the allegations involve the conduct of Members of Parliament, Mapisa-Nqakula determined that the appropriate course of action would be for Mkhwebane to file a complaint with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests.
The Office of the Registrar, which operates under the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests for Assembly and Permanent Council Members, would handle the complaint.
“It is important that the Speaker remains impartial throughout this process,” Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.
The Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests, which is available on the website of Parliament, details what constitutes a violation of the Code and the steps that must be taken during an investigation.
“In response to Adv Mkhwebane’s request for a private discussion of the matter, the Speaker gave her the assurance that, in accordance with the Code, all documents, data, and evidence held by the Registrar must be kept confidential,” Mothapo said.
Mothapo said he is assured of confidentiality given that the meetings of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests and Sub-Committee must be closed to the public until such time as a finding is reached, which, together with the reasons therefore are made public.
Given that the procedure for referring matters for investigation at the level of Parliament is clearly outlined in the Code and on the website of Parliament, Mothapo said Mkhwebane did not need to meet with the Speaker to discuss it.
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