Head of watchdog on MPs’ ethics resigns

PARLIAMENT’S ethics commissar, Fezela Mahomed, has resigned after a court finding that she violated the very ethical code she was supposed to enforce.

Mahomed, whose official title was registrar of members’ interests and secretary to the parliamentary joint standing committee on ethics and members’ interests, has come under increasing fire for pro-ANC bias and for having been appointed irregularly.

But she has always been stoutly defended by the ANC.

Last week, however, the Western Cape High Court ruled that she and the two ANC co-chairmen of the ethics committee, Amos Masondo and Omie Singh, were themselves so in breach of the code they were supposed to uphold the way they tried to prosecute three DA MPs that they may not handle that specific case again.

The three MPs concerned were Archie Figlan, Makashule Gana and DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

Furthermore, Mahomed has been ethics commissar since 1998, despite the fact that the parliamentary rules clearly state that the registrar of members’ interests must be newly appointed after every election.

Also, the appointments can be made only after consultation with the leaders of all political parties in parliament.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said he was delighted with Mahomed’s resignation.

“Her position became untenable after last week’s court hearing.

“She was biased, she smeared the careers of opposition politicians and her appointment was irregular anyway.

“I shall now be opening a case of fruitless expenditure against her for the legal costs she incurred.” These were paid by taxpayers, Steenhuisen said.

Parliamentary spokesman Luzuko Jacobs was unaware of the resignation when contacted yesterday afternoon, and could not comment.

He later denied that Mahomed had resigned, but The Herald has seen written confirmation by Mahomed that she has resigned.