Hlengwa correct to apologise for Mavuso spat, says former Scopa chair

Hlengwa, who is Godi’s successor as chair of the oversight body, came under fire this week for his spat with Mavuso during a visit to two of Eskom’s power stations.

In a heated meeting, Mavuso was asked to leave the meeting by Hlengwa for saying the current Eskom board won’t take responsibility for “the mess the ANC created” at the power utility.

But following a meeting of the IFP’s national executive committee, Hlengwa issued a statement in which he admitted the situation could have been handled better.  

“While my exchange with Eskom during the SCOPA meeting escalated in the manner that it did, it was an exercise of my responsibility as chairperson to caution against attempts to draw SCOPA into partisan politicking in the discharge of its work,” Hlengwa said.

“Oversight and accountability are often uncomfortable, especially when so much is wrong in the country, but they are a necessary exercise of our constitutional and democratic dispensation. Those who hold office through the election, appointment or deployment must accept that they will be held accountable for how they exercise their duties, and for the performance of their respective entities.”

Godi also believes Hlengwa let his emotions get the better of him.

“The last line of defence is the chairperson who should control the meeting, but if he is engaged in an emotional spat, he has let himself and the committee down.

“This has unheard of and has never happened, therefore. It is uncharted territory and I am not sure what will happen to him. He was batting for the ANC, and they are likely to defend him and spare him the humiliation of appearing before the Ethics and Privileges (Committee) of Parliament.”

In his statement, Hlengwa said he is ready to appear before the committee to explain his conduct.

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