Parliament elects co-chairpersons of its joint ethics committee
The ANC's Lusizo Makhubele was elected as co-chair from the National Assembly, while the DA's Joseph Britz was elected co-chair from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) component.
Newly-elected joint ethics and members' interests co-chairpersons, Joseph Britz (left) and Lusizo Makhubela (right). Picture: @ParliamentofRSA/X
CAPE TOWN - Parliament has finally elected co-chairpersons of its joint ethics committee, with the two coming from the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) for the first time.
The ANC's Lusizo Makhubele was elected as co-chair from the National Assembly, while the DA's Joseph Britz was elected co-chair from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) component.
The two chairpersons didn't waste time in calling for ethical leadership that's beyond reproach as they took up their new roles.
The joint committee on ethics and members' interests was the last committee to elect leadership since the seventh administration started.
Following months of discussions, the committee chose to keep with the Government of National Unity (GNU) trend of sharing control over committees.
While the MK Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) nominated their own MPs, the two failed to get enough votes.
Makhubele said that as leaders, their ethics should not be questioned.
"We believe that as leaders, we should be encompassing unquestionable ethical leadership."
Britz said that MPs should do the right thing at all times.
"Trust and confidence will be restored by ethical conduct of members. Ethical conduct simply means to do the right thing when nobody is watching."
Following the election, the committee wasted no time and held its first meeting behind closed doors as required by Parliament rules.