Basically it should be the eyes and ears of the voters to ensure that the government does its job properly and that taxpayers’ money is appropriately spent. Unfortunately that role is too often abrogated.
The most glaring example was the scuttling of any meaningful arms deal probe more than a decade ago, under pressure from then-President Thabo Mbeki and his enforcer Essop Pahad.
ANC MPs have developed a habit of bending too easily to the will of party leaders, rather than following their consciences.
The latest example is the refusal by the ANC, at this week’s Chief Whips’ Forum meeting, to accept a notice of motion for debate on the spending of more than R200 million on President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead at Nkandla.
The excuse is that there are currently inquiries under way.
That’s feeble. Just another way of trying to brush the affair under the carpet. Taxpayers have a right to hear this matter aired.
No comments:
Post a Comment