ANC MP breaks ranks over Myeni
She insisted SAA boss brief MPs on the carrier’s finances
ANC DIVISIONS spilled over into Parliament after one of the MPs differed with her party colleagues on a position to block SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni to brief the finance committee on the finances of the national carrier.
Peace Mabe, who was appointed to the standing committee recently, broke ranks with her ANC colleagues yesterday, and called on Myeni to go ahead with her briefing to MPs.
This was in spite of the tough stance taken by three ANC MPs in the finance committee to not allow Myeni to give a presentation, because all the SAA board members were not present.
The board had boycotted the meeting, with MPs raising questions whether to continue with the meeting.
But ANC MPs Pinky Kekana, Dikeledi Mahlangu and Thandi Tobias-Pokolo stood their ground and refused to order Myeni to go back. They said she should only come back when the rest of the board was present.
But Mabe, who previously chaired the portfolio committee on public service and administration, insisted that Myeni continue with the briefing.
“I feel if the chairperson, who is the captain, is here the meeting should continue,” said Mabe.
But Tobias-Pokolo disagreed and said the meeting should be called off.
“There are serious allegations and challenges at SAA and for the first time the board is not here. I forgive honourable Peace Mabe, because she has no clue what is happening here. We want to engage members of the board and not an individual,” said Tobias-Pokolo.
“I forgive Peace, we will brief her. As the ANC caucus, we are not going to entertain any issue without the board,” she added.
Mahlangu also backed her colleague, saying Mabe was not on the same wavelength as the other caucus members.
“I understand where Peace Mabe is coming from. I don’t want us to expose the chair (Myeni). For us to come here was not easy Mabe. Let us release the chairperson to get her house in order,” said Mahlangu.
Kekana said the issue was about compliance by SAA , which was why they wanted the board to be present before them when making a presentation. Myeni cannot do this alone, and they wanted the board members of SAA (to be present), she added.
Myeni was accused by her fellow board members of missing eight board meetings. But this was denied by Myeni yesterday. She told MPs she has attended all the scheduled meetings of the board.
Opposition MPs said the absence of the board was an indication of a boycott against Myeni.