The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests met today and received a briefing from the Acting Registrar of Members’ Interests, Adv Anthea Gordon on the complaints laid by the Public Protector, Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane against Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson (subsequently deceased), Mr Richard Dyantyi, Ms Pemmy Majodina and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The matter is on the ongoing agenda of the committee.

The committee noted that four of its members serve on the committee for Section 194 Inquiry. The four members, Mr Bekizwe Nkosi, Mr Julius Malema, Ms Violet Siwela and Ms Mimmy Gondwe have been recused from the committee for the purpose of the complaints by the Public Protector. This is to ensure that the process before the committee is fair, ethical, and conducted with integrity.

The committee will process the complaints in line with the provisions of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosures of Members’ Interests and will at its next meeting engage on the substance of the complaints. The committee observes principles of natural justice which must be adhered to.

The committee will not engage media requests on the complaints.

Source: Parliament of South Africa