Minister snubs capture probe again

THE ANC MPs shielded Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane from being subpoenaed to answer questions on state capture in Parliament, despite missing committee meetings three times in a row.

This after calls made by the DA to request National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to authorise a subpoena to force Zwane to attend the next meeting of the portfolio committee on mineral resources were shot down.

Zwane did not attend yesterday’s meeting after he sent a letter indicating he has not recovered after he missed another meeting on Tuesday, when he submitted a sick note.

This is despite the fact that he was seen on television cameras participating at the ANC Free State provincial general council on Tuesday.

He last appeared before the committee in October and also did not attend a subsequent meeting in November.

The DA’s Hendrik Schmidt proposed the next meeting take place in two weeks, and that Mbete be approached to authorise a subpoena if he did not attend.

ANC MPs said Schmidt’s proposed date was not feasible and the minister was willing to attend the committee’s meetings.

Committee chairperson Zet Luzipho said they did not expect a sick note when they planned their meetings for this week.

Luzipo said the pending questions on state capture would be considered when the committee met after Parliament reopened in January.

“On the first working week of January, we will give the minister a date or alternatively he gives an alternative date,” Luzipo said.

Schmidt was not convinced about Zwane’s attendance at the scheduled meeting and insisted that Mbete be asked to authorise a subpoena.