LISTEN: Opposition rages as Hlongwa survives motion of no confidence
Opposition parties in the
Gauteng legislature will seek legal advice after a motion to remove African National
Congress (ANC) chief whip Brian Hlongwa was defeated.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) tabled the motion after an SIU report implicated Hlongwa in alleged corruption amounting to R1.2 billion during his tenure as MEC of Health between 2006 and 2009. .
Thirty-six MPL’s voted for Hlongwa to stay, while thirty-one voted for him to go.
Four MPL’s were absent, while only one abstained.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura told the legislature that the role of the SIU is not to find people guilty and that the ANC will wait for the law to take its course.
The EFF, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) strongly disagreed.
“He has done every delaying strategy in the book. I don’t know why its dragged on for so long, he could have his day in court if he stops delaying. The DA is looking into other legal options that can speed this up,” the DA’s Jack Bloom told the legislature.
The EFF agreed with Bloom.
“He was constantly using the delay in this SIU report saying he is being victimized and has not done anything wrong, and now that the report is out he has nowhere to hide. We are extremely disgusted at the entire ANC caucus and Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who has recently made several pronouncements of how committed the ANC is in fighting corruption,” said the EFF’s Mandisa Mashigo
The EFF will approach the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks to ask the entities to speed up the case.