Makhosi Khoza boycott amounts to 'gross ill-discipline'

The MPs boycotted the meeting because they object to the leadership of committee chairperson Makhosi Khoza.

But ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu says the MPs' actions amount to "gross ill-discipline".

"Whatever their grievance, real or imagined in relation to the chairperson of the committee is a matter to be dealt with by the organisation which has deployed all of us. The matter of Dr Makhosi Khoza is being dealt with at an organisational level through the constitutional processes of the organisation. We therefore condemn today's behaviour with utmost contempt."

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip received a letter from members of the ANC Study Group on Public Service and Administration stating that they have decided to suspend all study group and portfolio committee meetings until their grievance in relation Khoza has been addressed. 

They believe Khoza has bridged ANC discipline.

This letter has since been leaked to various media houses. 

Mthembu has informed the group that they do not have the authority to suspend any work they are deployed to do in Parliament. 

"The suspension of any of these meetings and/or failure to attend meetings individually and collectively constitutes ill-discipline action on their part," he says. 

ANC MPs who boycotted the meeting will be referred to the ANC Caucus Disciplinary Committee.