Deputy speaker ordered to pay
Protector flags premier for improper speech R125k cellphone bill condemned
Western Cape premier Helen Zille yesterday rejected Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s findings that a tweet she wrote on colonialism in March 2017 was a violation of the executive ethics code.
“The premier has not received the... report outlining the reasons for this finding‚” Zille’s office said in a statement shortly after Mkhwebane’s report was released.
“However‚ from what has been announced… the premier is likely to take this report on judicial review. The premier has already advised the public protector that‚ in her view‚ such a finding would be unlawful and irrational.”
The ANC had lodged the complaint against Zille‚ alleging that her tweet had brought back a lot of pain and suffering to victims of apartheid.
The tweet had read: “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative‚ think of our independent judiciary‚ Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has recommended that the deputy speaker of transport infrastructure‚ piped water.”
Mkhwebane had recommended that the speaker of the Western Cape provincial legislature should‚ within 30 days of the report‚ take appropriate action to hold Zille accountable for her utterances.
Mkhwebane said Zille maintained that she saw nothing wrong in the tweet.
“The premier felt that it was within her rights to tweet like that because according to the constitution‚ she has freedom of expression. That was her view – that there is nothing wrong she has done‚” said Mkhwebane.
However‚ Zille apologised for the tweet last year shortly after it spa rked outrage.
Regarding the apology‚ the Limpopo legislature pay back part of a R125 000 cellphone bill racked up on a trip to the US in 2014.
Mkhwebane said Lehlogonolo Masoga had abused financial resources.
“The allegation that the deputy speaker incurred an exorbitant or unreasonable Mkhwebane said: “Her apology can be interpreted as recognition of the negative impact the tweet had on the dignity of a section of the South African population.”
The former DA leader had been placed on suspension for the tweet in March last year‚ a move‚ however‚ which she said was extremely harsh. She said the party had failed to follow proper party procedures when considering her suspension.
In a nine-page letter motivating why she should not be suspended‚ Zille said black people who shared the same views as her on colonialism were not treated in the same manner.
“Given that so many black South Africans have expressed exactly the same views on the legacy of colonialism as I have (only in more forceful terms) and given that the DA has never raised any concerns about these views‚ let alone repudiated them‚ and has no written policy on the matter‚ I drew the conclusion that a contributing reason to my being charged is the fact that I am not black‚” said Zille.
She rubbished claims that the tweet saga had tarnished mobile telephone bill... is substantiated‚” said Mkhwebane’s report into the matter.
Just over R100 000 went towards roaming data charges while he was on the trip.
Mkhwebane gave Masoga 60 working days to pay back the funds.
Sowetan had reported in 2015 that Masoga had denied the allegations of how the bill had ballooned‚ stating that this was part of a “smear campaign”.
“I reject with contempt the malicious‚ libelous and defamatory
‘ ‘ Premier felt it was within her rights to tweet like that
the party’s image‚ saying: “The ongoing damage to the party in this matter is of its own doing. I am not the one who has held press conferences and made speeches‚ or statements‚ or continuously leaked misinformation to the media.”
Zille said it was not true that allegations levelled against me by some not-sofaceless conspirators to injure my integrity for cheap political motives‚” he said at the time.
While it was initially reported that an official who complained about the bill had been suspended‚ Mkhwebane said she could not confirm this.
“My office contacted Ms Maite Toona with a view of obtaining reasons for her suspension‚ but she elected not to cooperate‚” Mkhwebane said.
Mkhwebane indicated that Masoga did not accept her she had not apologised for the tweets. “Despite the gross misinterpretation of my tweet‚ I complied with [the] request to apologise and posted the following: ‘I apologise unreservedly for a tweet that may have come across as a defence of colonialism.’ It was not.” findings or her proposed remedial action.
This report was one of seven that Mkhwebane released yesterday as part of her office’s quarterly media briefing.
Mkhwebane said in her 20 months in office‚ her office had received over 25 200 complaints. More than 21 000 of them had been finalised.
“Some of these are matters that should not be coming to the public protector‚” she said.
Only complex issues‚ which amounted to 50‚ received formal reports. –