Parly must be pressured to be more 'robust' in holding MPs accused of corruption accountable - ActionSA

JOHANNESBURG - While talks over the country's new Cabinet continue, ActionSA said Parliament's ethics committee should be pressured to be more "robust" in holding members of Parliament (MPs) like corruption-accused, Zizi Kodwa, accountable.

The party also said it would explore all available channels, including the ethics committee, to object to Kodwa's return to the National Assembly after being charged with corruption.

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Kodwa is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday when Speaker Thoko Didiza swears in other MPs from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party who also missed the first sitting.

ActionSA parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, was the first party leader to raise objections about Kodwa’s imminent return.

"We do not want to be involved in a GNU [Government of National Unity] that protects people like Zizi Kodwa and brings them back to Parliament, despite very serious charges of corruption."

Trollip added on Monday that they would approach Parliament and other relevant institutions to hold MPs implicated in misconduct or wrongdoing accountable.

This means a complaint against Kodwa could be the first before the ethics committee in the new term should he take up his seat.

Trollip said ethical leadership demands that they place sufficient pressure on the ethics committee to be more robust in holding all MPs accountable for conduct that contradicts the Constitution and Parliament's values.