Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says the responsibility to institute formal disciplinary hearings against Commissioner Mbuyiselo Botha of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) does not fall under the mandate of parliament.
Botha has apologised for calling fellow commissioner Nomasonto Mazibuko an albino.
He also allegedly verbally attacked CGE Chairperson Tamara Mathebula saying she lacks a backbone.
The Speaker was responding to a letter by the Chairperson of the Tamara Mathebula, who sought clarity on the powers of the commission pertaining to Chapter 9 institutions, whose members might have breached the “code of conduct.”
Confirming the receipt of the letter, Parliament’s Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo informed the CGE that its guideline is clear on how the chairperson should deal with such matters.
“The commissioner’s handbook gives guidance on the duties of the chairperson in the event of a breach of code of conduct. The committee, which seems to have been referred to in the letter that was received by the Speaker, is the portfolio committee on women, youth and persons living with disability, to which the commission accounts. Therefore, Commissioner Deyi’s matter was referred to this particular committee and it’s under the consideration of the members of that committee. So, once finalized, the committee will advise the Speaker and the National Assembly on the way forward,” says Mothapo.
