Cape Town - The ANC nominated seven MPs to Parliament on Tuesday for an ad hoc committee to consider President Jacob Zuma's submissions on the Public Protector's report on his Nkandla home.
“In terms of the Rules of the National Assembly, parties were afforded 10 working days to recommend names to the Speaker for appointment to the ad hoc committee,” ANC chief whip Stone Sizani said.
“Despite the exhaustive and complex internal process of identifying capable representatives for this ad hoc committee, we are pleased that we were able to submit these recommended names today, 22 April 2014, two days ahead of the stipulated deadline of 24 April 2014.”
The ruling party denied claims by the opposition DA that it had deliberately tried to delay the work of the committee.
“As we have repeatedly stressed, this ad hoc committee is being established during the parliamentary recess and election season, which has meant that putting together a team of seven MPs, who are currently involved in intense election campaigning in all nine provinces, was not going to be an overnight exercise,” Sizani said.
“Our task was therefore unique comparable to that of other parties, who on average needed only to identify a single MP to represent them in the committee.”
The seven ANC MPs who will serve on the committee are:
* Cedric Frolick (National Assembly house chairman);
* Buti Manamela (ANC whip on labour portfolio committee);
* Doris Dlakude (ANC deputy chief whip);
* Joyce Moloi-Moropa (chairwoman on public service and administration portfolio committee);
* Cecil Burgess (chairman on joint standing committee on intelligence);
* Luwellyn Landers (chairman on justice and constitutional development portfolio committee); and
* Faith Muthambi (ANC whip on communication portfolio committee)
Frolick will be recommended to serve as chairman of the committee.
“The list we have recommended to the Speaker is composed of very capable individuals with the necessary political experience, expertise and legal know-how on the matter the ad hoc committee is mandated to consider,” Sizani said.
It remains unclear when the committee will convene.
Earlier on Tuesday, the DA said it would be writing to National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu to ask for an extension of the April 30 deadline the committee is expected to submit its report to Parliament.
“I will specifically ask that the deadline be extended to May 5, to allow for work throughout the weekend of May 2 to May 4,” DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko told reporters.
“I will also ask that the special session to consider the findings, and to give effect to my motion to remove the president in terms of section 89 of the Constitution, takes place on May 5 or May 6.”
The committee, which is mandated to consider the submissions made by Zuma in response to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on the R246 million upgrades to his private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal, was established on April 9.
Parties had 10 working days to nominate members to serve on the committee. - Sapa