Settlement derails legislature hearing against NFP MPL

THE KwaZulu-Natal legislature has abandoned a disciplinary hearing against NFP MPL and its provincial chairman, Vikizitha Mlotshwa, after he reached a settlement with the complainant.

In April, a complaint was lodged with the office of speaker, Lydia Johnson, following an incident where Mlotshwa and the party’s caucus office secretary were allegedly embroiled in a scuffle over a cellphone that resulted in the alleged assault of the employee.

The Daily News had reported at the time that the incident took place at the offices of the NFP in the legislature premises, when Mlotshwa served the secretary with a suspension letter and also ordered her to immediately return the NFP’s laptop and a cellphone.

The matter was then referred to deputy speaker, Meshack Radebe, the chairman of the institution’s standing committee on discipline.

At the sitting of the legislature last Thursday, it emerged that Mlotshwa and the complainant had since smoked a peace pipe.

Tabling the disciplinary committee report on behalf of Radebe, chief whip, Nontembeko Boyce, said the institution had investigated the complaint and also appointed a prosecutor about four months ago.

Mlotshwa was subsequently served with disciplinary charges, and a date for the hearing was initially set for sometime in June, and later in August.

However, when the disciplinary committee met early this month, it was informed that the matter had been “settled” after attorneys of the two parties held discussions.

“The complainant has formally withdrawn her complaint against Honourable Mhlotshwa. A copy of the notice of the withdrawal was presented to committee,” she said.

“In view of the withdrawal of the complaint, the committee confirms that there is no longer a need to proceed with the matter any further. It regards the matter as closed,” Boyce said.

The report was subsequently adopted unanimously by MPLs from across the political divide.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, Mlotshwa said he was relieved the matter had been concluded.

“I’m happy that my name has been cleared. There was fabrication by some people,” said Mlotshwa, who previously maintained that the saga was politically motivated.

He also said the criminal charges laid by the complainant did not stick in court, and that his party had deemed that he had no case to answer when the complaint was lodged internally.

According to Mlotshwa, he had welcomed the request from the attorneys of the complainant who, no longer being in the NFP parliamentary caucus, asked for a settlement.

“I would have sued her after this legislature disciplinary case,” he said.

Radebe said a free and fair process was followed in the matter, but stated that they discouraged the withdrawal of charges.

“Members should rise above any conflict situation. Don’t allow yourself to be provoked,” Radebe said as his message to his colleagues.

The complainant could not be reached for comment.