By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa says that the suspension of the complainant, ANC MP Mervyn Dirks, was immaterial because the committee had already started its internal process.
Hlengwa said a session was due to be held on Friday, but it could not go ahead, according to the presiding officers of the National Assembly, due to the unavailability of MPs who were involved in constituency work.He indicated that the committee received correspondence from Dirks in December last year.
“I acknowledged receipt of Dirks’ email correspondence and agreed with him that the matter was serious and would receive the attention of the committee at the earliest possible convenience in January 2022 when Parliament resumed its work,”he said.
After having informed National Assembly house chairperson for committees, Cedric Frolick, on the matter, the Scopa chair said he then engaged with Parliament’s legal team on the matter.
Hlengwa insisted that the committee will continue with its work without any political influence.
“The committee does not draw into party political activities or factions and therefore due regard is given to avoid polarising the committee whose work, whilst in the political space, it must rise above party political divides and pay particular attention to the rules of the National Assembly, the Constitution and applicable legislation to our work.
“The matter brought before me by Dirks, and being processed towards the committee, does fall within the ambit of matters which deserve our attention,”the Scopa chair continued.
He said Dirks’ suspension had “no material bearing” as the committee “reserves the right to invite or summons any person to appear before it to provide information, evidence, or representation”.
Furthermore, a withdrawal of the letter if it were to arise does not conclude the matter without due process as a report would still be required of the committee.
“The matter is now a subject of parliamentary process and the committee is seized with it and will take decisions it deems fit, necessary and appropriate,” Hlengwa added.
While Dirks has been prohibited to participate in any Scopa activities, Hlengwa said the committee is expected to meet with the MP next week to hear his representations.
Parliament is set to reconvene on Tuesday, 25 January.
The matter relates an audio recording, where Ramaphosa is heard saying that he knew of party members who utilised public funds for their political campaigns ahead of ANC’s 2017 Nasrec elective conference.