Committee to examine IEC office scandal

Parliament will establish an ad-hoc committee to "consider" Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings on the procurement of the IEC's headquarters in Centurion.

 

 "The establishment of the ad-hoc committee will be tabled in the  NA [National Assembly] next week, together with a time frame for it to complete its work... and recommend a course of action," Parliament said in a statement on Thursday.

 

   

"As is the case with other committees of the NA, the ad-hoc committee will comprise proportional representation from political parties represented in the House." This meant there would be seven members of the African National Congress, two of the Democratic Alliance, one of the Congress of

the People, one of the Inkatha Freedom Party, and one from smaller parties represented in the Assembly. By early next week, parties were expected to provide the name  of their chosen members to serve on the committee.

 

   

Last month, Madonsela recommended that Parliament consider taking action against Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairwoman Pansy Tlakulafor her "grossly irregular" role in the procurement of the Riverside Office Park building for the commission's head office. 

 

 

Madonsela found improper conduct and maladministration on Tlakula's part, and a conflict of interest involving a co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.  The man, Thaba Mufamadi, had a 20 percent stake in Abland, which 

was awarded the R320 million contract to lease the building. He is also Parliament's finance portfolio committee chairman. Madonsela found that Tlakula had failed to disclose her business relationship with Mufamadi to the bidding team, which compromised her independence and objectivity.

 

 

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip urged opposition parties not to consider MPs who had already publicly pronounced their judgment on Tlakula.

"This will ensure that the process is dignified, just and fair," said spokesman Moloto Mothapo. "We are hopeful that parties will not put the narrow interest of their political parties ahead of those of Parliament, the IEC and the entirenation as this could jeopardise the credibility and confidence in the crucial work that the institution is undertaking,"

 

 

  -Sapa