ANC blocks move for Madonsela to address parliament

THE ANC has blocked an attempt to have former public protector Thuli Madonsela brief MPs in the National Assembly, in what would have been her final swan song in parliament.

Madonsela would have briefed parliament on her highly contested report on state capture.

The matter first came up at a chief whip’s forum this week, where the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Floyd Shivambu made the suggestion.

The matter also came up at yesterday’s National Assembly programme committee meeting which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli.

Had MPs agreed, it would have been the first time a leader of a Chapter 9 institution briefed the National Assembly.

The privilege is usually reserved for dignitaries and heads of state.

The last outsider to be given an audience with the National Assembly was former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said: “I think it would be important that the matters that the honourable Shivambu has put on the table be clarified, so that an impression is not created that there is a meeting of minds in the chief whip’s forum that the outgoing public protector must address the house.”

He said there was no agreement in the chief whip’s forum to invite Madonsela.

Shivambu then asked that the matter at least be debated in the house.

Madonsela could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma has indicated that he wants to postpone the court hearing on Madonsela’s state capture report, saying he needs time to respond to the late application to intervene by former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.