Ramaphosa must account for Zuma's absence

19 October 2014

The decision apparently taken by Luthuli House to relieve President Jacob Zuma from his constitutional duty to account to Parliament should be rejected with contempt (see Sunday Times report).

We know that President Zuma has become an embarrassment to the ANC. But this does not mean the ANC has the right to determine whether or not the President appears before Parliament to answer questions.

I will be writing to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Leader of Government Business, to account for President Zuma's absence from Parliament.

According to Rule 111(1)(a) of the National Assembly, the President must appear before Parliament at least once per term (or four times a year), to answer questions from Members of Parliament. President Zuma has only appeared before the House once this year, and there is no indication that he will do so again.

This is the latest of many attempts by the ANC to shield the President from scrutiny. These include:

The white-wash that is the Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee

The Speaker's failure to oblige the President to answer questions satisfactorily on the one occasion he did answer questions

The downplaying of Zuma in Gauteng during the election campaign and at its recent provincial conference

The deployment of Zuma allies to the SABC to protect and promote his image

Whether the ANC likes it or not, Jacob Zuma is the President of South Africa with all of the obligations that go with that.  This includes appearing before Parliament to account for his performance in government.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, October 19 2014

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