Cape Town – The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has written to the Speaker of Parliament requesting “urgent intervention” in the stalled Section 194 Committee inquiry into suspended Public Protector Advocate Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.
The inquiry, which resumed on Wednesday was bogged down by demands that the chairperson of the inquiry Richard Dyantyi recuse himself because he has been accused of soliciting a bribe.
Allegations, first made in the media, are that Dyantyi, African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in Parliament Pemmy Majodina, and former minister Tina Joemat Pettersson conspired to solicit a R600 000 bribe from Mkwebane’s husband to make the section 194 inquiry go away.
Pettersson died suddenly at her home in Cape Town on Monday.
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Majodni denied the allegations.
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Inquiry, chairperson Dyantyi, rejected the allegations and refuses to recuse himself.
Advocate Mkhwebane insisted the inquiry could not continue because her new lawyer was in hospital.
She also said she would not be comfortable with Dyantyi continuing as chair, given the allegations, which she said were backed up by evidence.
Amid threats that WhatsApp audio and texts implicating the chair would be made public, the inquiry was adjourned to Friday.
Now the ATM has asked the Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to urgently intervene.
“In light of recent corruption and bribery allegations against the Chairperson of the Section 194 ad-hoc committee into Public Protector Advocate Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, I am writing to you requesting your urgent intervention, all in attempt to uphold the integrity of the work of Parliament,” writes ATM President Vuyo Zungula.
“Seeing that this is a precedent case as it is the first inquiry done by Parliament to determine the fairness to hold Office by a Head of a Chapter 9 Institution, this process must be fair, free from corruption and must be beyond reproach.”
“The case that has been opened at a police station implicates the chairperson who plays an integral part in the proceedings of the inquiry.
“The case that has been opened has a direct bearing on the processes and outcomes of this Committee.
“The evidence was also submitted in support of the allegations levelled against the three Members of Parliament is compelling for it to be ignored.”
The ATM said “the lack of action” by Parliament – in light of the case, opened with the police – will taint the reputation and objectivity of the institution.
“Parliament should, at the very least, be seen not to tolerate impropriety of any kind, let alone allegations of bribery and solicitation for fair trials to those that appear before the committees of Parliament,” said Zungula.
“In light of the above, we request the Speaker to ensure that this process does not continue with these hanging allegations against the chairperson.”
