Q&A

Parliament’s ethics committee has still not acted against ANC MP Mduduzi Manana, who was convicted of assaulting a woman last year. Chris Barron asked co-chairman of the committee OMIE SINGH . . .

Are you struggling to cope?

No, we are proceeding with the workload as it is coming in.

Why haven’t you investigated Manana?

We can’t jump Manana up first because it is sensational with the media. As the cases come in we are cleaning them out. As in the case of an assault [by EFF deputy leader Floyd Shivambu] on a journalist, for example. All those cases are queueing in.

Shouldn’t you prioritise?

If you prioritise then you’re going to be accused by certain political parties that you have certain . . . you understand what I’m saying?

Shouldn’t your concern be to deal with the most serious cases first?

When we start a case we can’t stop it because there is something else that is more serious.

Didn’t Manana plead guilty in court almost a year ago?

No, not a year ago.

August last year?

Yes, that’s not a year ago. And there’s been cases before the Manana case we’ve been handling.

Are you short-staffed?

No, we’re not short-staffed. We’ve got enough staff.

Have you started an investigation into the Manana case?

Yes, we have started. The registrar would be a better person to answer that because he has all the records. He can tell you where we are at on that investigation.

When a person has pleaded guilty there’s not much to investigate, surely?

There’s nothing to investigate but we have to give him the opportunity to come and tell us: “I accept the guilty verdict in the ethics committee and you now can decide what to do with the case.”

Shouldn’t you summon him?

No, what you’re telling me now is how I should do my duties. Is that what you’re doing?

No, I’m asking you.

We have a procedure that we have to follow according to the rule book.

If you’re not short-staffed why have you got a backlog?

There’s no backlog. Whatever cases have come in we are processing, and we have completed them.

But you say you’re not able to deal with the Manana case because you’re still dealing with other cases . . .

We are dealing with the case but there are other cases . . .

When you have a cabinet minister trying to bribe the evidence leader of a parliamentary inquiry, isn’t that something you should prioritise?

You’re not hearing what I’m saying. Each case has to wait in line.

When can we expect action against Bongani Bongo?

In two or three weeks’ time we should have completed many of those cases.

Against the former minister?

Yes.

And against Manana?

I can’t give you a date.

Can you tell me how far you’ve got in the case of Malusi Gigaba, who lied under oath?

I need to go, I’m walking into a meeting now because you’re carrying on.