ActionSA Parliamentary caucus leader Athol Trollip announced that the party has accepted the African National Congress’ (ANC) offer for the chairperson position of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) without any conditions.
The ANC approached ActionSA two weeks ago with the offer for SCOPA chair in three provinces. The election of chairpersons for Parliament’s Portfolio Committees is set to take place today.
ActionSA has nominated Trollip as chairperson of SCOPA.
Trollip says, “We have to start breaking this perception that Parliament protects a government that is probably good and that wastes money, and that even allows for the theft of money. And we got to start calling, swimming pools, swimming pools and not calling them fire pools and having Parliament defending the indefensible.
So that would be my understanding, is that one must account for every single cent. And if a service delivery department appears before you that is responsible for maintaining rail infrastructure, then they must account for the state of rail infrastructure in this country.”
Political analyst Professor Sethulego Matebesi says he is disappointed that President Cyril Ramaphosa failed to fulfill one of his original promises before he took up leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), which was to reduce the size of the Cabinet and national executive.
Ramaphosa has announced 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers for the 7th democratic administration, under a Government of National Unity (GNU) agreement with 10 other political parties.
This will be the first time in the country’s democracy that the national executive comprises of a combined leadership of members from 9 different political parties.
Matebesi says the merging and separation of certain ministries was politically motivated.
“No, it was not an appropriate decision to increase the national executive. I am of the view that some of the decisions were made to accommodate some parties in the GNU. But this will affect the state fiscus negatively. I don’t think our economy will be boosted due to the setup of this new national executive.”
Matebesi adds the crux of the matter is confirmation that politics and positions have taken priority over the urgency of addressing residents’ grievances.
“Political party leaders always mention that they are for the people whenever they speak on public platforms, but we know that in politics it is all about positions because of benefits associated with such.”
“That is very disappointing. Even when you consider the time it took to finalise the agreement on key positions within the national executive. This shows you that everyone was eyeing what they could walk away with. Not necessarily how they could contribute to resolving citizens’ challenges,” adds Matebesi.
ActionSA Parliamentary Caucus leader Athol Trollip says they want a probe into the swearing-in of former Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, as a Member of Parliament.
Kodwa was sworn in yesterday along with 58 uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party members.
The charges follow recommendations in the State Capture Commission Report implicating him in corruption for alleged bribery amounting to R1.6 million.
Trollip says Kodwa’s return goes against what the ANC and the President have been saying for a long time.
“Zizi Kodwa resigned shortly before the election as the Minister because there were serious charges of corruption against him. There’s a prima facie case of corruption against him. He’s out on bail and he gets sworn in to Parliament. So two things have happened. One, the integrity Commission of the ANC is clearly not working because even Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions) have questioned him being sworn in, we are questioning him being sworn in. We are going to demand of the Ethics Committee that they investigate Mr Zizi Kodwa. Because we don’t believe he’s suitable to serve as a Member of Parliament,” adds Trollip.
PODCAST | Interview with Action SA Parliament Caucus leader, Athol Trollip:
Cosatu says it is shocked that the ANC went ahead with the swearing-in of Kodwa as an MP.
The labour federation’s national spokesperson Zanele Sabela says, “When we heard that he could be sworn in, we didn’t think they’d actually go through with that. So it was actually a surprise given that he, you know when he was charged, he didn’t need pushing.”
“He actually just resigned and we thought, wow, amazing. We commended him on that and now to see him back in Parliament being sworn in as an MP is actually quite baffling. What happened to the step aside rule that they have come up with themselves,” adds Sabela.-Reporting by Diteboho Ntamane
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party says they will picket outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal.
This in response to the arrest of the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) area manager in Pietermaritzburg, who is suspected of tampering with ballot papers in the recent national elections.
The party earlier this month announced that it would approach an international court over the alleged rigging of last month’s elections.
MK KZN spokesperson Vincent Mdunge says, “The picketing and the protest march is legitimate. It is initiated by our regions in Pietermaritzburg in collaboration with MK Party.”
“It is intended to showcase our plight and show the world how badly South Africa has been robbed of its mandate, especially uMkhonto weSizwe Party in running and leading the country.”
The party says if it’s legitimate for the ANC to form a government although it scored 40% of the votes nationally, it should also be legitimate for the MK Party to form a government in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mdunge adds: “KZN alone could have been run in government by uMkhonto weSizwe Party given the margins. We are saying, if the government or the current government scored 40% countrywide and we scored 45% [in KZN] and they [ANC] are legitimately allowed to form a government national unity, [and so should we]. So, we are saying the MK Party is equally legitimate to be given space to form its government. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
PODCAST | MK KZN spokesperson Vincent Mdunge’s interview on SAfm’s First Take programme:
Activist Mandisa Mashego says a petition alone cannot lead to the removal of a Member of Parliament.
Her statement follows the apology of Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Renaldo Gouws for a controversial video that has sparked allegations of racism against him.
The newly sworn-in MP faces backlash over a 2009 video that resurfaced, showing him making charged comments against the African National Congress (ANC) government.
A petition demanding his removal from office has gained momentum, with almost 30 000 signatures.
The DA has yet to react to the developments.
Mashego explains what the law stipulates in such a case. “Whether you believe that I made a racist remark or not, if I am a member of Parliament or legislature or council, the reality is that the electoral laws do not allow a petition to have me removed…”
“It’s very important for South Africans to begin to wrap their heads around these things,” adds Mashego.
PODCAST | Mandisa Mashego’s full interview on SAFM’s First Take:
Social Media reaction to Gouws’ apology:
A snippet of a video that I posted 16 years ago (back in 2009) when I was young and still a student has been recycled and posted on social media over the last few days.
I addressed this snippet in 2016 and again in 2020 when approached by the media when it was posted on social…
Even though the term “racist” has lost all meaning in this country I firmly believe that those who falsely accuse others of “racism” or being “racist”, should face a heavy fine or at least some consequences for damaging the reputation of those they falsely accuse.
I don’t think they must remove Renaldo Gouws cos we need daily reminders of just how vile and racist the DA actually is. Renaldo shatters the illusion created by liberals that they are tolerant, they are not. They use nice words but they still think black ppl are k*ffirs https://t.co/LhPaLCV5dE
