The Labour Ministry on Tuesday accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of purposely misrepresenting the facts about Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana’s availability to answer questions in Parliament.
A DA statement on Monday, which listed Mdladlana as being among ministers who evaded parliamentary questions, ”is not only misleading, but is meant to misrepresent the facts”, ministry spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said.
”Considering that the media is awash with stories of the minister currently chairing the International Labour Organisation’s governing body meeting in Geneva from March 9 to 30, it is surprising that it can be boldly said Minister Mdladlana is among the ‘dodging ministers’.”
This means the minister did not leave South Africa at will, but after authorisation by the president. Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour was appointed to act in Mdladlana’s place.
For DA chief whip Douglas Gibson to suggest Mdladlana ran away from the questions disregarded the well-known fact that ”when he is not performing duties outside the country, Minister Mdladlana has never missed a single question session in Parliament”, Sigabi said.
In Monday’s statement, Gibson singled out Mdladlana, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile as some of the ministers who had indicated they would not be attending oral question sessions in Parliament in March.
”These ministers have also failed to provide proper explanations for why they have been unable to attend these oral question sessions,” Gibson said. — Sapa