By Christelle Terreblanche
Political Bureau
President Jacob Zuma has appointed five new members of the Human Rights Commission, but has delayed the appointment of the controversial sixth candidate, Loyiso Mpumlwana.
Speaker Max Sisulu has formally notified the National Assembly that Zuma has accepted his request to delay Mpumlwana's appointment, following information that he may have misrepresented his credentials to MPs when he was interviewed for the position. He may therefore not be a "fit and proper person", as required by the constitution.
Parliament entered uncharted waters when the allegations were made in the National Assembly shortly before the house voted in favour of his appointment. It has never had to reconsider a candidate it has already approved.
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Mpumlwana apparently failed to disclose in his CV and in interviews with MPs that he had been found guilty of misrepresenting himself to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, when he accepted employment with the body in 1996 while still working for the Eastern Cape government.
Secretary to the National Assembly Kamal Mansura said the matter would now have to be referred back to the justice portfolio committee, which would have to reassess Mpumlwana's candidature.
Mansura told The Mercury that this would normally be done through a procedural motion brought in the Assembly.
"The process is now a political process," Mansura said yesterday.
"The house must refer it back to the committee for consideration.
"A procedural motion is normally moved by a senior member of the house and the most senior member of the assembly is the chief whip (of the majority party) in the house."
ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga has asked Sisulu to make the appeal to the president. Mansura, however, said that the Speaker's request for the delay in Mpumlwana's appointment was based on his own judgement.
Justice committee chairman Ngoako Ramathlodi has since launched an investigation into the allegations surrounding Mpumlwana's candidature.
The new HRC commissioners are Danny Titus, Lawrence Mushwana, Lindiwe Mokat, Bokankatla Malatji and Janet Love.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on October 20, 2009
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