Next Parliament to deal with Shivambu, Bongo cases
THE ethics committee has left it to the next Parliament after the polls to deal with cases involving EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu and former state security minister Bongani Bongo.
The committee will release its legacy report on the cases it has investigated in the current term and Speaker Baleka Mbete is expected to make it public.
Co-chairperson of the committee Omie Singh yesterday said they could not conclude some of the cases because of certain factors.
However, Singh said the report of the committee will give an insight into the work done so far.
Shivambu was hauled before the committee after he allegedly assaulted Netwerk24 journalist Adrian de Kock in March last year but the case could not be finalised. “It was supposed to be heard on April 4, but (two members) could not attend and the hearing could not go ahead,” said Singh.
De Kock is also said to have not been available to give evidence while Bongo’s case could also not be finalised.
Bongo was accused of trying to bribe the evidence leader of the Eskom inquiry in Parliament, advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara.
Vanara, who is now a senior official at the SABC, reported the matter to the committee which charged Bongo.
Bongo had allegedly wanted Vanara to drop the Eskom inquiry.
The report of the inquiry has since been given to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
Singh said the fact that they could not finalise these investigations means that the work has been shifted to the next Parliament after the elections. The ethics committee will have new co-chairpersons after the polls.
The rules of Parliament state that if the current group of MPs have not finished a case it has to be done by the next Parliament.
A few weeks ago Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla launched an attack on the ethics committee after he was found guilty.
This related to the security systems installed by Bosasa at his house in Joburg.
Makwetla said the committee took a decision despite the fact that he had not presented evidence.
Makwetla was one of several senior ANC figures linked to Bosasa, whose names have been mentioned in the Zondo Commission.
Singh said it was unfortunate they could not finish some of the cases and added that the new committee in the new Parliament would have to start all over again.