OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Friday 9.15pm.
MINERAL and Energy Minister Penuell Maduna on Friday apologised to Parliament for inappropriately accusing Auditor-General Henri Kluever of covering up losses of R170-million in the Strategic Fuel Fund in Parliament in June 1997.
Maduna’s apology comes after a multi-party parliamentary committee probing the subject for over a year ruled three weeks ago that he had breached National Assembly procedure by making the claim during question time.
Maduna told MPs in the Assembly on Friday that he accepts the committee finding, apologised unreservedly to the House and the Speaker, and withdrew his words unconditionally.
He could not resist pointing out, however, that the Public Protector still had to make a finding on the truth of his remarks — an issue not probed by the parliamentary committee. Kluever has strongly denied the allegations. Democratic Party chief whip Douglas Gibson said Maduna has made a fool of himself and “done his own reputation in this Parliament and his own standing outside a great deal of damage.”