Mapisa-Nqakula denies dismissing Mkhwebane meeting request
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has denied reports that she dismissed a meeting request by suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane over bribery claims against MPs.
This follows a claim by Mkhwebane that three high-profile MPs attempted to extort R600,000 from her in exchange for squashing the inquiry into her fitness to hold office.
The MPs reportedly include the chairperson of the inquiry, Qubudile Dyantyi, ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina and former cabinet minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says Mapisa-Nqakula is concerned by the allegations.
"It is blatantly false and malicious that the Speaker has dismissed Advocate Mkhwebane's serious claims or her request for a meeting. The Speaker is not in a position to either investigate, make findings or ‘dismiss’ allegations made against Members of Parliament.
"It is for this reason that when Mkhwebane asked her for guidance or a ‘way-forward’ on how to deal with her allegations, as per her letter, she immediately advised her on the appropriate procedure - which was to lodge a complaint with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests."
Mothapo says Mkhwebane's claim that the speaker exposed her as a whistle-blower seems to be designed to mislead the public.
"The speaker had kept the details of her email exchange with Mkhwebane confidential and only issued a public statement after the matter was made public through the media.
"The media story included the contents of a letter, which appear to have been leaked to the journalist as it was exclusively sent to Advocate Mkhwebane by the speaker in response to her request for a meeting.
"The media story also published the comments of Advocate Mkhwebane on the letter she received from the speaker, thereby making it obvious that she is a complainant, or a ‘whistle-blower’ in the matter,” he added.
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