Van Schalkwyk refutes DA criticism

2010-09-06 16:06

Cape Town - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Monday rejected allegations by the DA that he had shown disregard for Parliament by repeatedly failing to appear to answer questions.

The former National Party leader was one of 19 Cabinet ministers fingered by the Democratic Alliance for missing question time without properly explaining their absence. Van Schalkwyk was named as one of the six worst offenders.

The minister said he "has never missed any parliamentary session without tendering an apology in terms of the appropriate procedures".

Van Schalkwyk pointed out that the DA had failed to list the number of times he allegedly failed to tender an apology, or to give the dates on which he did so. He said he had only been asked to respond to oral questions in the National Assembly twice since the Zuma administration took office last year.

He conceded he was absent on both occasions - once because he was in China with the president - but said he apologised in writing on time and submitted written responses before the sitting.

"It is very unfortunate that the DA considers it prudent and appropriate to make serious allegations about the disregard of Parliament which are not based in fact," he said.

The DA on Sunday said ministers' absence hindered Parliament's ability to conduct effective oversight of the executive and has served to weaken the accountability of government.

The party said the worst offenders were International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration, Collins Chabane; Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and Van Schalkwyk.

ANC Parliamentary Caucus spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the ministers' conduct had been noted and the Speaker's office had been in discussion with the leader of government business, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, on the matter.

- SAPA