Parly committee lambasts Home Affairs' Schreiber for missing recent meetings

CAPE TOWN - Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has fallen foul of Parliament's portfolio committee for not attending its recent meetings.

Chairperson Mosa Chabane has lambasted Schreiber for not pitching at Tuesday’s meeting to discuss corruption in the department.

This despite Schreiber sending an apology, saying he had a clash with a Cabinet committee meeting.

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Chabane said Schreiber was undermining Parliament and its oversight role by not attending meetings of the committee.

He cited recent visits to the Tshwane Refugee Centre and an unannounced visit to the government printing works as having flopped because officials were unable to provide the correct information and Schreiber was also not there.

"We are not saying apologies are not taken, but there are circumstances that are clear that there's no appreciation to account for the work of the committee."

Chabane was backed by African National Congress (ANC) MP Moleboheng Modise-Mpya.

"We should consider writing to the leader of government business. This behaviour is totally unacceptable."

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Yazini Tetyana supported the recommendation, saying the committee would be rendered powerless if Schreiber did not attend its meetings.

"Because we see the pronouncements that he’s going around making, means he is doing something somewhere, but he doesn’t want to come sit with us here."

Chabane said that while legitimate apologies were accepted, Schreiber's absences could no longer be tolerated.