Tough day:

Malusi Gigaba arrives at parliament to face the home affairs committee on Tuesday. The minister has called for wider public consultation on the awarding of VVIP terminals following the Fireblade scandal, which looks set to lead to his axing.

Embattled home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba has called for wider public consultation on the awarding of VVIP terminals to private operators following the Fireblade scandal, which looks set to lead to his axing.

Parliament’s home affairs portfolio committee has been pushing to get to the bottom of the Fireblade matter, in which he is alleged to have overturned approval for the Oppenheimerowned Fireblade Aviation to operate a private customs and immigration service at OR Tambo International Airport.

Gigaba has lost various court actions aimed at overturning findings that he had lied under oath — later repeated by the public protector — when he said he had not given his approval for the terminal to be operated.

He has also accused some parliamentary committees of being part of a plot to derail his political career. Gigaba and senior home affairs officials appeared before the portfolio committee on Tuesday night.

However, MPs were at odds on how to proceed after a Constitutional Court ruling and findings by the public protector.

In its submission to the committee, the department said it was complying with the Constitutional Court ruling and a draft memorandum of understanding with Fireblade was in place.

Earlier indications were that Gigaba would be allowed to respond directly to claims by the Oppenheimers.

“The horse has already bolted … the courts and public protector have pronounced on this matter ... we would find ourselves in [violation] of the constitution if we discuss this matter,” said COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota.

But DA MP Haniff Hoosen insisted that Gigaba be allowed to tell his side of the story.

Committee chairman Hlomane Chauke sided with other MPs who suggested that allowing Gigaba to discuss the matter could create legal complications since the issue had been pronounced on by the courts and the public protector.

Chauke said the interest of the committee was in “the way forward”, especially on the services rendered by government departments to the Oppenheimers’ terminal. The committee was not involved in any plot against Gigaba, he said.

The Oppenheimers told the committee last week they paid home affairs about R117,000 a month for services.

“Also, it is unacceptable that the meagre amount being paid by Fireblade only goes to [home affairs] and there is no clear standard on how this amount was arrived at,” Chauke said.

Gigaba said he would confine himself to “operational issues”.

“As we indicated in the meeting of May, there is still no policy on private VVIP terminals. This being the first one of its kind … it means now a policy has to be developed so a framework can be provided on how such issues are dealt with going forward.

“Another question that arises is whose custody is this? Airports are under the department of transport, and the department of home affairs only renders a service … Given the precedent now set, what is the procurement process for such VVIP terminals? The entire government process of awarding contracts and tenders in government needs to be clarified.

“What we are saying is we are going to take to cabinet a discussion which will take into consideration the implications that have arisen as a result of this decision,” said Gigaba.

Public input on the matter would be required, he insisted.