Public Protector Report Not Referred to Committee on Public Accounts

Parliament, Thursday, 11 August 2011 - The report of the Public Protector was not referred to the Committee on Public Accounts, as reported by some media.

In terms of the Rules of the National Assembly the Speaker must table among others all reports and other papers submitted in terms of legislation

This is done by way of an entry in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee (ATC) Reports publication (a journal of Parliament). The Rules also determine that such reports and/or papers are referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker.

The report of the Public protector into complaints and allegations of maladministration, improper and unlawful conduct by the Department of Public Works and the SA Police Services relating to the leasing of office accommodation in Durban was received and tabled in the ATC of 27 July 2011 (p 2452). It was not at that stage referred to any committee.

This report, together with many others, that were received while Parliament was engaged in constituency and committee work, will be referred to the appropriate committees when the National Assembly begins sitting next week.

The matter has since been discussed with Mr Themba Godi, who has indicated that his statement about the referral of the report of the Public Protector had been due to a misreading of the ATC of 27 July 2011. The report that was referred to the Committee on Public Accounts was the reply from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to that committee's report.

Mr Godi accepts that the report of Public Protector has not been referred to his committee.

Statement by Mr Themba Godi, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Accounts:

Chairperson of Committee on Public Accounts Apologises for Confusion About Public Protector Report Being Referred to His Committee

Parliament, Thursday 11 August 2011 - I wish to apologise for any confusion about the report of the Public Protector into allegations of maladministration, improper and unlawful conduct by the Department of Public Works and the SA Police Services relating to the leasing of office accommodation in Durban being referred to my committee.

My statement about the referral of the report of the Public Protector was due to a misreading of the Announcements, Tablings and Committee (ATC) Reports, a publication of Parliament, dated 27 July 2011. The report of the Public Protector was not referred to the Committee on Public Accounts. The report that was referred to the Committee on Public Accounts was, in fact, the reply from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to that committee's report.

Statement from Mr Max Sisulu, Parliament's National Assembly Speaker:

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu wishes to place on record that the Public Protector's Report into complaints and allegations of maladministration, improper and unlawful conduct by the Department of Public Works and the SA Police Service relating to the leasing of office accommodation in Durban has NOT been referred to the Committee on Public Accounts as reported in the Cape Times of 10 August 2011. On the 27th July 2011 it was tabled in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly has been in recess since July and there are many such reports awaiting referral. This report and the others will be referred to the appropriate committee when sittings of the National Assembly resume next week.

Statements issued by Parliament, August 11 2011

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