Zwane again ducks state capture queries

‘It is the oldest trick in the book to say I am not coming so I don’t accept it’

MINERAL Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane again snubbed the portfolio committee to answer questions on the allegations of state capture.

Attempts by the official opposition to have Zwane subpoenaed to appear at the next meeting of the committee were blocked by ANC MPs.

This was after Zwane tendered an apology for his unavailability to attend a meeting yesterday.

The minister sent correspondence saying he was unavailable because he had not recovered from illness.

This is despite the fact that he was seen participating at the ANC Free State’s provincial general council on Tuesday. That same day he skipped another meeting of the committee and instead gave MPs a sick note.

Yesterday’s no-show was the third time in a row that Zwane did not show up at a meeting of the mineral resources portfolio committee since his last appearance there on October 17.

His absence drew mixed reaction from the committee members with the DA roundly rejecting his apology while his colleagues from the ANC threw their weight behind him.

“It is unfortunate that the minister is not here. It is the oldest trick in the book to say I am not coming so I don’t accept it,” the DA’s Hendrik Schmidt said about the sick note.

He proposed that the committee meet within the next two weeks.

Should Zwane not be available again, Schmidt said, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete should be approached to authorise a subpoena.

But, the ANC’s Mapule Mofolo disagreed, saying the apology should be accepted regardless.

“We know the minister has been appearing before the committee and he has shown willingness to appear,” Mofolo said before asking for Zwane to be given time to recover.

Her sentiments were echoed by her colleague Imamile Pikinini, who said committee chairman Zet Luzipo should ensure a meeting was held when Parliament re-opened early next year.

“The unfortunate part is that it’s the last day to be here tomorrow (today). The chairman and whip should ensure we have a meeting when we come back. They will give us a date so that we move forward,” Pikinini said.