ANC MP Dirks wants reasons why he should withdraw Scopa letter regarding Ramaphosa’s appearance

African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament Mervyn Dirks wants ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina to furnish further reasons why he should withdraw the letter he has written to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) for President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the committee.

He wrote the letter in the wake of a leaked audio clip, of what is reported to be ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa saying that he was aware of public funds that were used for party political campaigning at its 2017 Nasrec elective conference.

Political commentator Oliver Dickson shares more on the issue:

Majodina gave Dirks until 9am today to withdraw the letter which he has written to Committee Chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa after they met with him on Monday night.

In his counter letter, Dirks says while he is considering the instruction, he needs information for him to arrive at an informed decision.

He argues that he is not requested but instructed to withdraw a letter which he has sent to Scopa in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.

Dirks says as he took an oath of office as an MP, he would like to be given reasons for the instruction to withdraw. In the contents of the letter which the SABC has seen, Dirks says he does not defy the instruction from the ANC.

He says, however, as a result of the accusations levelled against him at Monday night’s meeting,  he needs to be informed in writing of the following; “The reasons why the ANC strategy took the decision to instruct me to withdraw the letter? Also, please indicate to me in writing if my letter is in bridge of any Parliamentary rules and procedures or in conflict with the constitution of the country which is the supreme law.  Is my letter in conflict with my oath of office?  What informs the decision to instruct me not to play my oversight role?