The African National Congress (ANC) parliamentary caucus has dismissed the Democratic Alliance (DA) call for a special sitting of Parliament to discuss President Thabo Mbeki’s suspension of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli.
”We reject outright the statement by the DA that action taken by the president of the Republic in terms of the Constitution and any law passed by Parliament could constitute a ‘crisis’ that warrants a special sitting of Parliament,” a caucus statement said on Tuesday.
Parliament should lead by example in respecting the laws it had passed.
This included the NPA Act, which stated clearly that Parliament had the final decision regarding the removal of the national director of public prosecutions.
The DA’s proposal for a special sitting of Parliament would pre-empt the inquiry required by the Act, as well as any processes Parliament might at a later stage be required to undertake, the ANC said.
The ANC caucus also welcomed Mbeki’s appointment of former National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala to head the inquiry.
DA parliamentary leader Sandra Botha has requested Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to urgently reconvene Parliament during its current brief recess, ”for the president to answer to Parliament the question why he has suspended the director of the NPA”.
”The National Assembly has an obligation to deal with the crisis that has arisen,” Botha said. — Sapa