‘Committees not part of plot’
Parliamentary committees will continue to do their oversight on ministers and government departments without fear or favour, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu says.
Mthembu made the comments after embattled home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba claimed the portfolio committees on home affairs and public enterprises were part of a political campaign to discredit him.
Speaking to journalists following a special caucus meeting‚ addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa‚ Mthembu said while the issue of Gigaba was not discussed‚ parliamentary structures were not part of any political agenda. Gigaba has been under pressure in parliament as the home affairs committee continues to ask him tough questions about his role in allowing the Oppenheimers to operate a private landing terminal at the OR Tambo International Airport.
A draft report by the public enterprises committee has also recommended that Gigaba should be among 44 people to be criminally investigated for corruption at Eskom.
Mthembu said if Gigaba had any evidence of anyone using committees to tarnish his name‚ he should have reported the matter to him.
“The committees of parliament are not part of any plot. We want to make that clear.
“We do our work without any fear or favour. Nobody has brought any such insinuation before the chief whip‚” Mthembu said.