Parliament pays tribute to Mr Montsitsi

Parliament’s Presiding Officers expressed a deep sense of loss on the untimely passing of former Member of Parliament Mr Dan Montsitsi. Mr Montsitsi served on 16 parliamentary committees in the second, third and fourth parliaments, and left an indelible trail of dedication and excellence for others to follow.

The Presiding Officers, led by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson Mr Amos Masondo and the then Acting National Assembly Speaker, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, said South Africa is poorer for his passing.

Mr Luzipo said that according to the National Assembly Rules, committees have a legislative right to call any entity or person to appear before them if that entity or person has information deemed necessary in the performance of the committee’s oversight duties. He added: “This implies that at any given moment, if a committee needs any kind of information in the furtherance of its legislative responsibility, a committee is entitled to it.”

The committee has resolved to communicate this to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and to invite the two entities to appear before it to present their annual performance and strategic plans for the 2021/22 financial year.

The committee also considered the issue of the multibillion-rand RMIPPPP tender process, which has been dogged by allegations of corruption and departmental manipulation of procurement procedures. The committee heard that it has a jurisdiction to conduct oversight over the tender process, despite the fact that it is now the subject of litigation.

According to Parliament’s Legal Services, the committee still has a legislative mandate to exercise its oversight on the matter, despite it being subject to legal proceedings.

Mr Luzipo therefore suggested that an inquiry should be set up to investigate the allegations of corruption and manipulation of the tender. Mr Luzipo said a committee inquiry process should commence and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy will be called upon in the first instance to give an overall account on the purpose of the RMIPPPP. The minister will also be given an opportunity to reply to the allegations of undue influence and possible manipulation in the awarding of the tender. The minister will also have an opportunity to provide clarity on the action taken against anyone who compromised the tender process.

Based on the Minister’s responses, the committee will make a determination on the way forward, including possibly of inviting DNG Power Holdings and those individuals implicated in corruption. Should the committee decide to conduct a formal inquiry into the RMIPPPP, the Speaker of the National Assembly will be approached.

The committee is saddened by the passing of committee Member Mr Mthokozisi Nxumalo, and sends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. It will send a delegation to the family as a gesture of support at this difficult time. The committee also noted the violence and destruction of property and infrastructure in KwaZuluNatal and Gauteng recently. It is considering holding an emergency meeting to discuss, among other things, an oversight visit to both provinces to assess the impact of the violence and its implications for the mineral resources and energy sector.