Winnie stops Frene's reprimand

2003-04-01 22:13

Cape Town - African National Congress MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was granted an interdict in the Cape High Court on Tuesday stopping National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala from publicly reprimanding her in parliament.

Madikizela-Mandela, who is also president of the ANC Women's League, was granted the interdict after an urgent application was bought before Judge Jerome Ngwenya.

The judge said that, due to the urgency of the matter, there was no time for him to give reasons.

Last week, Ginwala advised Madikizela-Mandela that she should be present in the National Assembly at 15:00 on Wednesday to be reprimanded for contravening parliament's code of conduct.

This was in line with the National Assembly's resolution of November 2002, which unanimously accepted a recommendation by parliament's ethics committee that the ANC MP be fined half a month's salary and be publicly reprimanded by Ginwala.

The committee found Madikizela-Mandela guilty of failing to disclose substantial discounts and business interests in the register of members' interests.

- SAPA