National Assembly Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala is now free to publicly rebuke Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and dock the equivalent of 15 days salary after MPs unanimously adopted a report of Parliament’s ethics committee on Wednesday.
In its report of August 22, the committee recommended that the African National Congress Women’s League president be fined R12 500 and that Ginwala severely reprimand Madikizela-Mandela in the House.
The committee found Madikizela-Mandela guilty of contravening Parliament’s code of conduct, in that she failed to disclose donations to supplement her monthly income, as well as her financial interests in the Winnie Mandela Family Museum.
She is the first MP to be found guilty under the code.
The code states that members must disclose all gifts,
hospitality, sponsorships and benefits valued at more than R350, as well as shares and financial interests in companies and other corporate entities.
In further recommendations, the committee said her failure to appear before its special investigating panel could be construed as contempt.
The National Assembly should consider whether any further action be initiated in this regard, it said.
On Wednesday, committee chairman Luwellyn Landers (ANC) urged the Assembly to adopt the report, while ANC deputy chief whip Andries Nel moved that it be adopted.
There was no debate and the report was unanimously adopted by all the MPs present in the House.
Madikizela-Mandela, who is notorious for her chronic absenteeism was again not present, having apparently returned from a visit to Libya.
She was not immediately available for comment. However, lawyers acting on her behalf have previously warned the ethics committee that it may have violated Madikizela-Mandela’s constitutional rights.
It is not clear whether they will launch a court challenge. Parliament rises on Thursday and it is not clear when Ginwala will act against Madikizela-Mandela. – Sapa