MPs angered by truant ministers

Complaints over no-shows at question time, committee meetings

MPs are fast losing patience with “superior” ministers and their deputies who seemingly refuse to account to the national legislature and its committees.

This week, MPs called for tough action against the errant executives. One MP even suggested that truant ministers be dragged to Parliament even if they were “kicking and screaming”.

There have been complaints of ministers not attending parliamentary sessions to answer questions and respond to members’ motions .

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoane- Mashabane again snubbed a parliamentary session despite leader of government business, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the chief whips forum calling on her to attend.

She instead went to Vietnam and sent one of her deputies to respond, only for State Security Minister David Mahlobo to her take her place.

Nkoana-Mashabane has yet to appear before the portfolio to explain her decision to grant diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwe’s Grace Mugabe last month.

Parliamentarians are also demanding answers from Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi after she did not attend a portfolio committee to account for reports that she flew family and friends at taxpayers’ expense to attend her budget vote.

Ramaphosa had to field parliamentary questions from the opposition who want action, preferably her dismissal from the cabinet.

Also. this week the social development portfolio committee took a dim view of Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane- Zulu, who has been absent from its meetings.

Responding to oral parliamentary questions, Ramaphosa said those who missed scheduled meetings without reasonable explanation could be sanctioned by the national legislature.

“Such powers do not reside with the leader of government business.

“This is so because it is this House that can also sanction the leader of government business,” he said.

The truant ministers and deputies also featured prominently in the programming committee on Thursday, with Nkoana-Mashabane’s absence raised.

The DA’s John Steenhuisen said he was disappointed and distressed that the minister snubbed the parliamentary question session despite correspondence from Ramaphosa and the chief whips forum urging her to attend.

“She is not accountable to Vietnam. She is accountable to this Parliament. It is a disgrace that the minister can go a whole a year without appearing in Parliament.” ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said: “It is something our rules must look at. We need to, really.” He said the rules needed to be “sharpened” so that the national legislature could have “peace”.

“We can’t be complaining like like little babies forever. We must bring this matter to a halt in one way or the other, in particular all those who show a middle finger to Parliament,” Mthembu said.

“You find some people are too superior to appear before Parliament.”

Steenhuisen said Parliament had powers to subpoena and he called on it to starts flexing its muscles against the ministers.

His sentiments were echoed by his colleague, Mike Waters, who said Parliament was empowered to summons anybody.

“So what we must do is summons the minister and bring her in kicking and screaming if she doesn’t to come on a voluntary basis.”

The ANC’s Moses Tseli said the issues needed the attention of the rules committee so that they were attended to properly.

“Some of the elements need to be taken by the rules committee,” he said.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.