Questions over Mabuza’s absence from Parliament ‘He would have spoken for a long time of up to three to four hours’

THE OFFICE of Deputy president David Mabuza has hit back at the DA for daring to suggest that someone stand in for him after he again missed yesterday’s oral question and answer session in the National Assembly.

Instead, they want the oral question converted into written replies if he is unable to attend.

Mabuza’s parliamentary counsellor, ANC MP Hope Papo said this during the meeting of the National Assembly programme committee after DA MP Jacques Julius brought up the matter for discussion.

Mabuza missed the session after asking for a postponement due to ill health following two other cancellations in recent months.

Julius said oral questions to Mabuza remained unanswered after he missed his previous sessions and that a decision should be made or some kind of explanation be made.

“I don’t want to sound insensitive. The chief whip of the majority party explained and I thought we will get an official briefing today because this is an official meeting, not a chief whip forum, where we can make decisions,” he said.

Julius said although ANC chief whip Pemmy Majona explained that there was a sick note, the non-appearance of Mabuza had been going on for a very long time.

“It is a real concern as a colleague that we do not get proper answers on the whereabouts of the deputy president but also what happens to these questions and his work as leader of government business.

“I think the executive needs to explain to us what is happening now and what will we do to get someone to answer these questions,” he said.

Papo said Mabuza had prior to the lockdown tendered his apology on account of ill health and it was accepted by the national legislature.

“The deputy in both instances wrote to the Speaker and there was no question whether the presidential medical advice is actually correct or not.

“The deputy president wanted to come this week to answer. Actually he was ready to come and answer questions but the medical advice said he must wait a bit,” he said.

He also said there was an agreement with National Speaker Thandi Modise on a mutually agreed date for his next appearance.

“It is funny Mr Julius is raising this issue as if the deputy president does not want to answer ... must the deputy president defy medical advice in terms of him dealing with the public outcry,” Papo asked.

According to Papo, Mabuza was not incapacitated but was asked to actually not answer on acccount that he would have spoken for a long time of up to three to four hours.

He accused Julius of having asked to see correspondence between Modise and Mabuza’s office despite four MPS having died due to Covid-19.

“Mr Julius comes and makes these insensitive statements. The deputy president is ready to come answer the questions but he can’t defy his medical team,” he said.

Papo insisted that Mabuza was talking and walking about but that did not mean he should defy his medical team.

EFF deputy leader Floyd Shivambu said their proposal was for a parliamentary resolution that allowed the presidency to give written replies if unable to make an appearance.

“That won’t require a change of rules,” he said.