The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is pleased to have again been given the opportunity with the support of opposition parties in parliament to debate the formation of the Phala Phala saga ad hoc committee.
The African National Congress (ANC) tried to obstruct the debate, but they were unsuccessful.
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said a debate was planned for today [Thursday, September, 22] in the Assembly, but the ANC stated that it had been removed from the Order Paper due to insufficient notice given to other parties.
During Thursdays Programme Committee meeting, National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, directed the debate to be placed on the Order Paper.
Gwarube said the DA submitted its motion last Friday, and it will be debated on Tuesday.
DA believes it has scored a major victory in the fight for accountability in relation to the role of Parliament in holding the President to account for alleged theft and abuse of public resources at his Bela Bela private game farm.
“We are ready for next week’s debate, and we hope all political parties in the Assembly will support the establishment of an ad hoc committee to look into the allegations of corruption. After the debate is over, the House must vote on whether to establish an ad hoc committee,” said Gwarube.
It is the Speaker’s intent to set up a Section 89 Inquiry to determine whether impeachment proceedings should be brought against the President, but this does not preclude investigations into other state institutions implicated in this scandal.
“There are ministers and state institutions who have cases to answer in Parliament. Parliament cannot ignore this constitutional obligation as it did during State Capture,” she said.
According to Gwarube, it’s about accountability and reinforcing Parliament’s role in national matters, not just party interest
“The institution has been lambasted in the past for failing to fulfil its constitutional duties. This will never happen again,” Gwarube added.
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