KZN speaker pressed to quit
2003-10-01 08:38
Durban - The speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature has been asked by all parties except his own to step down from his position after the deputy speaker on Tuesday shook the house by voluntarily stepping down until the finalisation of an inquiry into a damning report about the running of the provincial legislature.
Deputy speaker Willies Mchunu (ANC) dropped the bombshell before the house voted on a motion to appoint an independent advocate to preside over the matter.
"I am motivated to take this unusual step of standing down for a limited period because I have a deep desire to ensure that we restore the faith of the public, our members and staff in the integrity of this legislature, the highest government institution in the province," Mchunu said, adding that he has the full support of the leadership of his party.
Not reporting accident
Mchunu has been implicated in the Auditor-General's report for not reporting an accident within 48 hours. According to a source, he was seriously injured and treated in hospital.
This was described in parliamentary corridors as "a minor offence", but allegations against Speaker Bonga Mdletshe are much more serious.
He allegedly bought 15 new tyres for his official car in the space of 20 000 km and spent R15 000 on servicing the vehicle, while his personal assistant claimed 10 times more for his cellphone use than was allowed.
The ANC, DA, ACDP, NNP and Minority Front appealed to Mdletshe in his absence to listen to his conscience by following the example set by his deputy.
Moral high ground
ACDP member Jo-Anne Downs urged the IFP to take the moral high ground. "Perceptions are important and the elections are coming up in six months' time," she warned amid indignant shouts from IFP members.
All parties but the DA voted for a motion for Pietermaritzburg attorney Martin Potgieter of Von Klemperer Attorneys to be appointed to act as prosecutor on behalf of the legislature in the disciplinary inquiries.
The DA's Radley Keys said the legislature can handle the disciplinary procedure and that appointing an independent panel will confirm suspicions that the house is not honest and capable of a fair judgment.
In response to this argument, Transport MEC S'bu Ndebele (ANC) said the matter cannot be handled "clinically" by the disciplinary ethics committee as it is chaired by the speaker's office.
Legislature secretary Robert Mzimela and deputy Joe Mkhize were suspended last October pending investigation into the running of the legislature. However, according to Keys, no legislation allows for the suspension of legislature members unless their sentence exceeds 12 months in prison without the option of a fine.
The legality of stepping down rather than resigning could be a problem, the DA's Roger Burrows warned.
But the MF's Amichand Rajbansi said the implicated members could be sent on extended leave.
The independent investigation is expected to be finalised by the panel by mid-November, after which the House will decide on the nature and extent of any appropriate sanctions.