Officials stay away from home affairs briefing

Home affairs' provincial managers are being bloacked from appearing before Parliament

An email from the office of the deputy director-general of the department of home affairs has instructed provincial managers not to appear before Parliament, until Mavuso Msimang, the director-general, has given the go-ahead.

The DG was reported to have said last week that provincial managers should not appear before parliament. But the department says the e-mail does not reflect the DG's instructions.

Msimang earlier alleged that members of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs were colluding with suspended officials.

Committee Chair, Patrick Chauke, says there is an open defiance of Parliament by civil servants, “because they believe they are right and Parliament has no role to call them to account at whatever level." He says this is an attempt by the executive to instruct Parliament how to carry out its oversight role.

Committee members have called on the minister to clarify her position. Political analysts say it is the Minister's duty, as political head, to resolve the matter. The committee's departmental budget vote has been put on hold.