Scopa deadline for CR to explain comments

MEMBERS of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) will reconvene in the next few days to determine the next course of action after its request to President Cyril Ramaphosa to answer questions on allegations he knew about the use of state funds to finance ANC internal campaigns.

In a two-and-a-half-hour meeting yesterday, ANC members closed ranks as former party whip Mervyn Dirks called for Ramaphosa to be summoned to appear before the standing committee.

Dirks had gone to the Western Cape High Court earlier seeking to get his suspension lifted. However, he lost his court bid.

In another day of drama, with Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa announcing that the ANC had axed Dirks and replaced him with fellow party MP Bheki Hadebe, the committee said it would still seek answers from Ramaphosa.

ANC members in Scopa said they intended to look at issues in a non-partisan manner as their role was to guard the public purse. ANC MP Sisisi Tolashe said over the years Scopa had always listened to cases presented before it.

“I don’t think Scopa should be emotional about this. We’ve been there. Let’s take it as it comes. It is before us now and we are dealing with it. South African people want to hear how we are dealing with the matter and we are dealing with it,” Tolashe said.

She said Scopa has an established practice of seeking answers first before summoning anyone.

She said she supported fellow ANC MP Bheki Hadebe and Sakhumzi Somyo that Scopa should write to Ramaphosa seeking an explanation on his comments in the national executive committee on the misuse of public funds. In the legal opinion provided to MPs it was stated that the information was a portion of what Ramaphosa said at the meeting.

EFF MP Veronica Mente said they needed the president to account on the abuse of public funds as this was a serious problem in government.

She said this would provide members of Scopa with clear answers on who was behind the misuse of public funds.

DA MP Alf Lees called for Scopa to ask Ramaphosa to provide answers within seven days.

His colleague in the DA, Benedicta van Minnen, said they would call Ramaphosa to account.

Hlengwa said Ramaphosa would be asked to answer them to answer them within the next seven to 10 days.

“The president will be given seven to 10 days to respond to the committee through a form of a statement or affidavit on the matter at hand on the basis of utterances attributed to him as he makes them in the recording,” Hlengwa said.

“He must explain the recording and the contents thereof or therein, and the committee, on the basis of that response, will make a determination on how it structures its way forward, including but not limited to hearings and the issuance of invites to affected parties,” Hlengwa said.