Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool has apologised to the provincial legislature for ”incorrect” statements made before it on overspending.
”To bring finality and closure to an unfortunate episode, I apologise for anything I said that led to the conclusion of the ad-hoc committee,” he said in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Rasool was referring to the findings of a committee earlier this month that he had been wrong to tell the legislature the auditor general had condoned overspending on security at the home of provincial minister of community safety Leonard Ramatlakane.
The multiparty committee was tasked by the legislature earlier this year to investigate the matter.
The overspending amounted to R247 714 above the R100 000 provincial ministers are entitled to spend on home security. The auditor general has denied he condoned the extra expenditure.
Rasool said his decision to apologise was ”a political one”.
”I have had to weigh up whether my response was to be a legal one to be fought out in the courts by lawyers, or whether my response must be a political one where the premier speaks to the legislature and puts his fate in the hands of his peers.”
The decision had been the most difficult one taken in his 13 years in the legislature.
”At such moments, the confident voices of one’s legal team are a very seductive option: ‘Go to court to clear your name’. And, indeed, I believe that their arguments have enormous merit.”
The overriding concern, however, was ”how long can the province still bear the tension between its premier, its legislature and its auditor general”.
He had discussed the matter with his party, the African National Congress, and decided he [Rasool] was central to resolving these tensions.
”This political resolution … is a difficult one, where you cannot completely accept every detail and implication of the report of the ad-hoc committee and its conclusions. But today [Tuesday], my role is limited.”
He had many reservations about the report and its conclusions, including the one that he knowingly made incorrect statements.
”However, at the end of the day … I did not compromise my integrity, I did not lie to this house,” Rasool told members.
The matter had been ”an episode filled with misunderstandings”.
”To bring finality and closure to an unfortunate episode, I apologise for anything I said that led to the conclusion of the ad-hoc committee.”
Earlier, ahead of speaking in the debate, Rasool appeared tense, pulling apart stapled papers and shuffling them about on his desk top.
ANC MPL Mcebisi Skwatsha told the house his party accepted the ad-hoc committee’s report ”in full and unreservedly”.
”We call on the premier to accept the report and apologise to the house, the auditor general and the public. We call on the house to accept the report,” he said.
The Democratic Alliance’s Robin Carlisle called on Rasool to step down, but stopped short of tabling a motion of no confidence.
”The honour and integrity of this house cannot be sacrificed to save the honourable premier. He cannot remain here. He must go,” he told members during the noisy debate.
However, for the sake of good order, the subject of Rasool’s leaving was best left to himself and his caucus.
”And in their hands, for the moment, the DA will leave the matter,” he said.
Carlisle said the legislature’s business was to deliver honest and worthy service.
”I say to the premier, you will squander no more money. You have no further purpose or right to serve this house,” he told Rasool.
The legislature’s galleries were packed for the debate, with standing room only for late-comers to media benches. — Sapa