Elections won’t wipe out Parly ethics committee’s probe into MPs, says chairperson
The DA says it's happy the probes into complaints against high profile MPs like Deputy President Paul Mashatile won’t simply fall away and will continue into the seventh Parliament, provided those implicated are still MPs.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile in the National Council of Provinces on 12 March 2024. Picture: X/@PresidencyZA
CAPE TOWN - Investigations by Parliament’s ethics committee into high-profile members of Parliament (MPs) like Deputy President Paul Mashatile won't simply expire because of the elections.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) now says it's happy the probes into complaints against Mashatile won’t simply fall away and will continue into the seventh Parliament, provided those implicated are still MPs.
The joint committee on ethics and members' interests conducted several investigations into MPs and ministers during the current term of Parliament and found many guilty of breaching the ethics code.
They include former minister Mosebenzi Zwane and Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters who were both found guilty.
The committee was also investigating the now former Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, but that won’t proceed because she’s no longer an MP following her resignation.
DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube who is responsible for the latest complaint against Mashatile says she’s happy the matter won’t just fall away.
“Obviously, we are comforted by the comments by chairperson of the ethics who indicated that none of the matters that are before them are going to be allowed to expire.
"Because that’s something we have long held that ethics complaints can’t simply expire because of the conclusion of a term of Parliament”.
Mashatile’s spokesperson Keith Khoza, meanwhile, said he will meet this week’s deadline to answer questions put to him by the committee.