Nomboniso Gasa has resigned as chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).
In a statement issued from Johannesburg on Thursday night, Gasa said her resignation was precipitated by a summons to Parliament where a ”decree” was issued.
”I was ‘informed’ of a decision without any negotiations or much appreciation of the actual ongoing processes in the CGE.
”Much of the discussion surrounded their questioning and possible reversal of dismissals that had been undertaken following due process of the law and responsibilities of the commission.
Gasa said the dismissal of the CEO which followed the report of a year-long independent inquiry was brushed aside without knowledge of what the commission had based its actions on. It was implied that the commission’s decisions were ”reckless”.
”In so far as we have followed our constitutional obligations, I am left with the impression that the summons could only be read as an attempt to undermine our strict adherence to these norms.”
She said this type of ”top-down exchange which disallows debates over options” undermined the integrity of the commission and its ongoing efforts to remedy its weaknesses and make it an institution worthy of a constitutional democracy.
”One wonders what is behind this strange preoccupation with what the deputy speaker calls ‘sackings’? Why is there this unwillingness to ask us for the relevant information before making presumptions? Is there something more to this?
”My resignation is unconnected to recent allegations of fraud which I have addressed in a press conference and other media that were open to me. I will continue to take remedial action,” said Gasa. — Sapa