ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had not snubbed Parliament’s ethics committee by failing to appear before it on Wednesday as she believed her lawyer had communicated with the committee, her office said.
Madikizela-Mandela was in Johannesburg attending a service for the late ANC MP Peter Mokaba.
”Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was under the impression that the ethics committee had received a letter from her lawyer. She is at a service for Peter Mokaba.”
No further details were available.
Madikizela-Mandela was expected to appear before a seven-member panel of the committee to answer claims that she received donations of R50 000 a month and had not disclosed these in the register of members’ interests.
Madikizela-Mandela had asked for a postponement last month and was given June 12 as the new date.
Asked whether she had apologised or given an explanation for her absence, committee chairman Lluwelyn Landers replied: ”No comment”.
However, Sapa has established there was in fact no apology or a request for a postponement from Madikizela-Mandela.
Madikizela-Mandela would be given another opportunity to appear before the committee, but a new date had yet to be set, Landers said.
Asked what powers the committee had to secure Madikizela-Mandela’s attendance, he said it had the right to subpoena her if necessary. ”Our committee is not anxious to do that.” he said.
Should Madikizela-Mandela fail to appear again, the panel would report to the full committee which would take any decision it deemed fit, he said.
The National Assembly could decide on an appropriate action or sanction.
However, Landers acknowledged that current legislation did not allow for an MP to be suspended from the Assembly as ruled by the Constitutional Court.
Wednesday’s meeting which went on without Madikizela-Mandela was held behind closed doors and two policemen were posted to ensure that the media did not gain access.
The seven-member panel included Landers (ANC), his deputy Lawrence Mushwana (ANC), Motlalepula Chabaku (ANC), Errol Moorcroft (DA), Piet Matthee (NNP), Sybil Seaton (IFP) and Cassie Aucamp (AEB).
The committee decided in May to call Madikizela-Mandela for questioning on whether she had received undeclared donations.
It wanted clarity after hearing that an earlier explanation she gave, denying receiving any donations, had flatly contradicted a sworn statement she had made to court during her bail application after her arrest on fraud and theft charges.
Madikizela-Mandela was also expected to be questioned about her claim that she had no financial interest in the Mandela Family Museum.
An internet search of the South African Companies Regulatory Office by Parliament’s Registrar of Members’ Interests, Fazela Mohamed, found that the Winnie Mandela Family Museum was registered on July 3, 2001.
Madikizela-Mandela disclosed her financial interests on September 19, but apparently did not refer to the museum.
The proceedings remain confidential until the committee tables its report to Parliament, within seven days of the hearing.
Madikizela-Mandela goes on trial in June on fraud and theft charges involving nearly R1-million.
IFP MP Mandla Msomi, who is accused of failing to disclose substantial discounts on two luxury vehicles bought from then EADS head Michael Woerfel, is scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday afternoon.
He is expected to be represented by his chief whip Koos van der Merwe. – Sapa