DA will not let Yolanda Botha off the hook

The DA is disgusted that the ANC-dominated Ethics Committee today gave Yolanda Botha a slap on the wrist for lying under oath, submitting false evidence and showing no remorse for her misconduct.

We will not take this lying down.

I will personally be acting on the original recommendations made by the Ethics Committee to discipline Ms. Botha by referring her case to the South African Police Services, the Special Investigations Unit (Hawks), the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants and the South African Revenue Service for further action. This is what was supposed to happen. I intend to make it so.

All those who thought that the ANC had recently re-discovered its moral compass will be sorely disappointed. The truth is that, when an ANC member is not politically expendable, they are protected.

Ms. Botha has had quite a turn-around in fortunes. Three months ago the Ethics Committee unanimously recommended the strongest possible sanction for her wrongdoing. But today, the ANC members of the committee backtracked and voted to adopt a watered-down version of the report. She has gotten off with a small fine and a reprimand.

We had fully expected the Ethics Committee to refer Ms. Botha's case to the police, the SIU, SAICA and SARS as was resolved in the original report which had been adopted by the committee in September. That was the fate that befell Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2002 when she was found guilty of similar breaches of the ethical code of conduct.

Moreover, the DA believes that the committee acted inappropriately by not allowing members to discuss the revised report, which had been sent back to the committee for discussion without any reasons provided. Furthermore, no debate was allowed, only a snap vote lasting no more than two minutes before moving on to the next item on the agenda. Considering the time, effort and care that went into investigating Botha and considering appropriate actions, the committee's decision to ram through this revised report without discussion is shameful. It appears that some members of our Ethics Committee are ethically challenged.

The DA will be making a declaration in the house concerning this fiasco. But we will also make sure that the relevant legal, administrative and financial authorities learn of Ms. Botha's alleged actions. The fact is, the Ethics Committee found Yolanda Botha guilty of serious transgressions against Parliament. She must be held to account, and the Ethics Committee must have the guts to make her pay for her actions.

Statement issued by Anchen Dreyer MP, DA Spokesperson on the Public Accounts Committee, November 16 2011

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