By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mosebenzi Zwane, a prominent figure in the African National Congress (ANC) and a Member of Parliament (MP) has been found guilty of contempt of Parliament.
Zwane’s transgressions stem from his refusal to offer an apology to the National Assembly after being found guilty of failing to declare Gupta-sponsored benefits to the ethics committee.
One of the recommended sanctions against Zwane was a public reprimand and an apology in the National Assembly, but Zwane failed to do so.
At the time, African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Pemmy Majodina said Zwane’s failure to appear must be dealt with appropriately by Parliament.
The ethics committee had also recommended to the National Assembly penalties against Zwane for his Gupta-related transgressions and that he be fined the amount of five days’ salary.
Zwane’s parliamentary charges stem from findings by the parliament’s joint committee on ethics and members’ interests in May last year, in the wake of a pending R280-million Estina fraud and corruption trial.
The trial is scheduled for August, which has cast a shadow over his political career.
The committee discovered that Zwane had not revealed the benefits he received from the influential Gupta, who were accused of leading the Estina fraud scheme.
Additionally, he had appointed two of their associates as advisors while serving as a minister.
In response, Zwane insisted that he had communicated his circumstances to the chief whip of the ANC and through his attorney, he had then sent in a formal apology for his absence.
For the first charge related to his absence on May 2 2023, he claimed that a flight delay had prevented him from attending.
On the second occasion, Zwane said he was in the National Assembly but was called away urgently when he got news about his sister needing an urgent blood transfusion. He presented photographic evidence of this but this was called into question.
“This causes confusion and must be rejected, it is not credible,” said initiator Zuko Mapoma.
Mapoma said that as a senior member of Parliament, Zwane’s transgression cannot be overlooked. He said that as a senior member of a law making body, his behaviour was unbearable.
MPs across the board agreed that Zwane did not make enough effort to explain his absence.
The sanction meted out, is a 50 % salary cut for one month and a public apology in the National Assembly before the 29th of March this year. Zwane asked for the salary cut to be reconsidered.
“The salary cut is a bit harsh; I have school fees to pay and I ask that that matter be relooked.” But MPs said the sanctions are reasonable and supported it.