Backlash over Hlophe’s JSC nomination
Parliament yesterday postponed the election of representatives to the JSC after the MKP nominated former Judge President John Hlophe to serve on the body that found him guilty of gross misconduct.
It has been reported that the National Assembly – which impeached Hlophe in February – has been thrown a curved ball by the newly-appointed MKP MP who was appointed its parliamentary leader.
The House yesterday considered names of MPs who will be deployed to the JSC, Magistrates’ Commission, SADC parliamentary forum and Pan African Parliament (PAP), and to elect new House chairpersons.
TimesLIVE reports that ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli withdrew the motion to consider MPs for the JSC. He also withdrew the election of House chairpersons and that of MPs to represent SA in the SADC parliamentary forum.
The Cape Times reports that the MKP expressed its unhappiness at not being consulted on the withdrawal from the agenda.
‘The reason for this withdrawal is to allow for further consultation on the matters that need to be cleared out on the three motions above,’ Ntuli said.
There was no objection when Speaker Thoko Didiza asked if there were any objections. However, after the Appropriation Bill was revived, an MP of the MKP wanted an explanation of why the JSC item was withdrawn from the agenda.
The public representative raised concern that the House was moving with speed and deferring issues.
‘We are not consulted on some of the issues that are deferred. We are not given an option to know on what basis we defer issues,’ said the MKP member.
‘We don’t know why it is being deferred. As the MKP we have not been informed about the deferment of the issue, what the reason and what is happening,’ he added.
Didiza explained that when Ntuli made the request for the withdrawal of the items to allow for consultation among the parties, she had put the matter before the House for consideration.
‘I did put the motion and there was no hand, and that is why I said there being no amendment or objection, we move forward with the motion,’ she said.
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