Winnie set for a scolding

2003-03-26 21:40

Donwald Pressly

Cape Town - African National Congress Women's League president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will be publicly reprimanded by the national assembly speaker Frene Ginwala for failing to disclose donations she had received in the register of member's interests whether she is present or not.

It was agreed at Wednesday's rules committee meeting that Dr Ginwala would set a date for the reprimand and if Madkizela-Mandela failed to arrive she would be reprimanded in absentia. Parliament agreed last year that Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of ex-president Nelson Mandela, be reprimanded for not disclosing interests in the Mandela family museum and donations she received.

In terms of the register, parliamentarians must register their income and other financial interests - over an above the value of R300.

Madikizela-Mandela is contesting the reprimand and has applied to the Cape High Court on the grounds that she was not given a chance to reply to the accusations that she failed to disclose the donations. Parliament is contesting the application that has been set down for April 14.

Speaking at the meeting - which is attended by whips of all political parties - Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said it was an extremely important matter but it was "preposterous" to suggest that the Speaker could be held in contempt of court if she went ahead with the reprimand.

Gibson said the real point was that Madikizela-Mandea had no intention of attending a session to be reprimanded - "she will not come here and so she is in contempt of parliament." No date has yet been announced when the reprimand will be issued. Gibson previously suggested that if Madikizela-Mandela did not appear, she should be axed as an MP by the ruling party. - I-Net Bridge

- I-Net Bridge (Business)