Parliament denies EFF's allegations of political bias in Ad Hoc Committee

Parliament has dispelled claims of political bias, lack of interest, or conflict by the National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, after remarks made by the EFF’s Leigh-Ann Mathys, a member of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 

Mathys had unleashed her ire during the proceedings on Wednesday regarding the delay in issuing subpoenas for the appearance of Paul O'Sullivan and Brown Mogotsi, as well as the excuses they had provided for various delays.

Mathys, speaking on the side of the committee hearings, said that the deeper issue with O'Sullivan and Mogotsi, “is that we have a GNU-run Parliament in the name of the ANC, who is the Speaker, and the Deputy Speaker, who is the DA”.

In response to her claims, Parliamentary spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, has said that the Office of the Speaker is regularly and comprehensively briefed on the work of all oversight committees through formal parliamentary reporting channels. 

“In fact, political oversight of committees resides in the Office of the Speaker, exercised through the House Chairperson for Committees, which enables the Speaker to maintain continuous oversight of committee operations.

“All formal communication between a committee and the Speaker’s Office is conducted through the chairperson of the committee. Where issues, requests, or concerns are raised by members, they must first be deliberated and adopted by the committee as a collective. 

“Once agreed upon, such matters are formally conveyed to the Speaker’s Office by the chairperson. No single party may claim to represent the views of the committee or make unilateral requests on its behalf,” Mothapo said.

On allegations regarding delays in summoning witnesses, including O’Sullivan, Mothapo explained that the authority to summon witnesses rests with the committee, acting collectively. 

“Once a committee formally resolves to summon a witness, the decision is transmitted to the Speaker for concurrence. Further, before the Speaker concurs with the issuance of a summons, she may require legal input to ensure that parliamentary processes can withstand legal scrutiny.”

Mothapo also refuted claims from Mathys of political bias, lack of interest, or conflict by the Speaker, stating that Didiza will not be drawn into political conjecture or partisan narratives. 

“Her responsibility is to safeguard due process and ensure that committees execute their mandates lawfully, independently, and transparently, as assigned by the House. The Speaker continues to provide the necessary institutional and procedural support to enable the committee to carry out its work effectively.

“Any concerns regarding the conduct of witnesses must be addressed within the committee, and in terms of parliamentary rules. Such matters cannot be managed through ad hoc or unilateral intervention,” Mothapo said.

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