Truant cabinet ministers again came under fire from parliament when the National Assembly's Deputy Speaker Gwen Mahlangu chastised their "unacceptable" behaviour and "disregard" for the House.
Mahlangu was reacting to the absenteeism of seven out of 11 ministers in the social services and governance cluster from the question-and-answer session on Wednesday.
Mahlangu's rebuke for ministers comes a day after Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of undermining MPs after she failed to appear before the home affairs portfolio committee for the second time in a row.
The minister's failure to appear in parliament was of "extreme concern" not only to herself by to every other MP, said Mahlangu.
"This is completely unacceptable. We are fully aware that ministers are seized with important matters of the state but it does not... to show such disrespect for the House to which they have a singular responsibility, both as members of the executive and as members of the House," said Mahlangu, drawing applause from the House.
The errant ministers who incurred the wrath of Mahlangu are: Naledi Pandor of Education, Lindiwe Hendricks of Water Affairs and Forestry, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang of Health, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi of Public Services and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu of Housing and Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture.
The DA's Chief Whip Ian Davidson was critical of the "growing contempt" illustrated by the executive.
"The DA believes the current attitude of the executive is indicative (of) a growing disdain for the constitutional imperative that the executive be held to account by Parliament (and) an arrogant and dismissive attitude toward the principles of transparency and accountability." - Cape Times
Mahlangu was reacting to the absenteeism of seven out of 11 ministers in the social services and governance cluster from the question-and-answer session on Wednesday.
Mahlangu's rebuke for ministers comes a day after Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of undermining MPs after she failed to appear before the home affairs portfolio committee for the second time in a row.
The minister's failure to appear in parliament was of "extreme concern" not only to herself by to every other MP, said Mahlangu.
"This is completely unacceptable. We are fully aware that ministers are seized with important matters of the state but it does not... to show such disrespect for the House to which they have a singular responsibility, both as members of the executive and as members of the House," said Mahlangu, drawing applause from the House.
The errant ministers who incurred the wrath of Mahlangu are: Naledi Pandor of Education, Lindiwe Hendricks of Water Affairs and Forestry, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang of Health, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi of Public Services and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu of Housing and Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture.
The DA's Chief Whip Ian Davidson was critical of the "growing contempt" illustrated by the executive.
"The DA believes the current attitude of the executive is indicative (of) a growing disdain for the constitutional imperative that the executive be held to account by Parliament (and) an arrogant and dismissive attitude toward the principles of transparency and accountability." - Cape Times
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