Mabuza ‘still sick’, opts out parliamentary question session
Deputy President David Mabuza has again written to National Assembly speaker Thandi Modise informing her that he is unable to attend to his scheduled parliamentary obligations.
Mabuza told Modise that his medical team had extended his sick leave.
He was scheduled to appear before the National Assembly on Thursday to answer MPs' questions.
This will be the second postponement by the deputy president due to ill-health.
Last month Mabuza cancelled his question sessions in Parliament following an undisclosed illness.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says Mabuza will resume parliamentary engagements once he’s recovered.
“The deputy president has once again fully committed to his availability before Parliament once fully recovered. Speaker Modise has wished the Deputy President a speedy recovery.”
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Mabuza’s whereabouts have come into question several times since the start of the lockdown in March.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Surgeon-General of South Africa Zola Dabula to update South Africans on the state of Mabuza’s health.
The DA’s Solly Malatsi says Mabuza’s absence is concerning.
“The session on Thursday is essential in ensuring the executive is held to account, and as leader of government business in Parliament, the deputy president must avail himself to give account of the brazen Covid-19 corruption of his party, the ANC, and government.
“This is especially important as it is not the first time the deputy president has used ill health as an excuse to miss parliamentary question sessions.
Malatsi says the surgeon-general needs to allay the public’s concerns.
“So, where is DD Mabuza? He is either seriously ill, and his office is trying to hide that fact, or there is nothing wrong with him and he is simply trying to avoid accountability by claiming ill health whenever he is called to Parliament.”
