Note to editors: This press statement by IFP Spokesperson on Women and Social Development, Liezl van der Merwe MP follows yesterday’s Constitutional Court (ConCourt) judgement handed down on former Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.
On Tuesday, 14 March 2017, the IFP wrote to the Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete to urgently establish an Ad Hoc Committee to probe the SASSA, CPS tender scandal and to look inter alia, into Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s fitness to hold office as allegations of corruption, fraud and money laundering pertaining to the CPS tender emerged.
[Click here to download the IFP letter to Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete]
Speaker Mbete has to date blatantly ignored the IFP’s calls to have Parliament investigate this matter.
Further to this, last year, in an Oral question session in Parliament, I asked former President Jacob Zuma to set up a commission of inquiry into Dlamini’s fitness to hold office, he merely responded by saying “the matter is not important and I should take my issues to the portfolio committee”.
Following yesterday’s ConCourt judgement, we once again call on Speaker Mbete to institute a full scale Parliamentary Inquiry not only into disgraced Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s alleged involvement in the seemingly corrupt relationship between CPS, SASSA, the Department of Social Development and members of the ANC.
While we call for an urgent Parliamentary inquiry this should not stop President Cyril Ramaphosa from urgently dismissing Minister Dlamini from his cabinet.
It is truly shocking and inexcusable that Speaker Mbete has shielded a rogue Minister from being held accountable by Parliament.
The IFP has always maintained that Minister Dlamini manufactured the SASSA crisis, to ensure that the unlawful and immoral CPS contract remained in place. She wilfully defied the Constitutional Court, and she acted in contempt of Court and in breach of her Oath of her Office in handling the matter.
Yesterday’s victory for public accountability, democracy and all affected by the SASSA crisis must now see a full scale inquiry further unpack Minister Dlamini’s alleged intimate involvement with CPS and other corrupt cronies.
We are confident that this is yet another step in holding to account a rogue Minister, who has made a mockery of Parliament’s oversight role, who has abused taxpayer money by handing billions to CPS, and disrespected the most vulnerable in our society with her deplorable conduct.
Parliament must take action now and President Ramaphosa must act swiftly.
Enquiries:
Liezl van der Merwe MP
IFP Spokesperson on Women and Social Development
082 729 2510