OPPOSITION MPs GIVE MOLEFE HELL
Insults hurled at new ANC parliamentarian
WHILE ANC MPs yesterday warmly welcomed “disgraced” former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, opposition parties moved to discredit him on his first day on the job.
An excited Small Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu even took to social media site Instagram to express her delight at Molefe’s swearing-in, saying “change must happen”.
There have been rumours circulating that President Jacob Zuma wants to replace Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan with Molefe who is close to the controversial Gupta family. But opposition parties hurled insults, as the newly appointed MP made his first appearance in the National Assembly.
The embattled Molefe received a hostile reception from opposition benches as he took his seat as a backbencher.
Molefe was seated at the back of the chamber, smiling as Speaker Baleka Mbete announced his swearing-in.
Mbete said the vacancy occurred in the National Assembly owing to the resignation of Abram Mudau. Mudau has since denied reports that he was forced to go.
Molefe filled the vacancy with effect from February 14.
“The honourable member was sworn in [in] the Speaker’s office today. I would like to welcome the honourable member,” said Mbete.
Opposition MPs booed as Mbete made the announcement.
“Where is that corrupt bastard?” asked the EFF’s Moses Mbatha, before being called to order by an ANC MP.
Mbete asked Mbatha to withdraw the comment, but he refused.
“I will recognise your voice in the Hansard recording,” Mbete said.
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu asked Mbete since when does parliament’s communication department do announcement on behalf of political parties.
He was referring to an official press release by parliament to announce Molefe’s appointment.
“We will not be abused by the Guptas,” said Shivambu.
Congress of the People (Cope) MP Deidre Carter also took jibes at Molefe.
“True north changed direction in this House because my immorality compass is [pointing] directly to the Honourable Molefe now.” A few hours earlier Molefe received a warm welcome from the ANC caucus at its weekly meeting where he was introduced for the first time.
DA finance spokesman David Maynier said the fact that the “disgraced” former Eskom group chief executive was sworn in as an MP was a “major escalation in the civil war within the ruling party and the battle for control of National Treasury, being driven by President Jacob Zuma”.
“We cannot be sure but it will presumably not be long before Brian Molefe is appointed to the finance committee to serve time before being appointed as the deputy minister of finance with a view to controlling the R1.8-trillion managed by the Public Investment Corporation,” said Maynier.