Winnie summoned by ethics committee

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has received a summons calling her to appear before a panel of Parliament’s ethics committee, her representative Alan Reynolds confirmed on Thursday.

He said the documents were served on her in Parliament a day before she read in the newspapers that she was allegedly untraceable.

Asked whether Madikizela-Mandela, an African National Congress (ANC) MP, would agree to appear before the panel, he said he knew only that her lawyers would be dealing with the matter from here on.

The committee decided last week to call her in for questioning on whether she has been receiving donations of R50 000 a month and not declaring them in the register of MPs’ interests.

The committee wanted clarity after hearing that an earlier explanation she gave to it, denying receipt of donations, flatly contradicted a sworn statement she had made to court.

Registrar of members’ interests Fazela Mohamed told the committee she had been unable to contact Madikizela-Mandela to ask for an explanation.

Madikizela-Mandela, who also heads the ANC Womens’ League, goes on trial in June on fraud and theft charges involving nearly R1-million.

The affidavit formed part of her bail application. - Sapa