DA to drag defence minister before parly’s ethics committee

24 May 2016 - 02:00 By TMG Digital
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The DA is to refer Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to parliament’s ethics committee after allegations that she abused state resources to smuggle a family friend into South Africa from Burundi.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. File photo
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. File photo
Image: Gallo Images / Rapport / Deaan Vivier

The Sunday Times reported that the minister did this using fake documents.

The DA said that some of Mapisa-Nqakula's comments regarding the allegations were misleading.

The party said she failed to address the fact that her sister‚ Nosithembele Nontobeko Mapisa‚ was suspended from her position in the embassy in Burundi for her role in the case.

“Minister Mapisa-Nqakula has misused her political standing to obtain favours from South African and international authorities and possibly violated her oath of office‚ Executive Members’ Ethics Act‚ the Immigration Act‚ and Defence Act in the process.

“The DA will write to the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interest and request that they investigate the minister’s potential Executive Members Ethics Act and Code of Conduct violation(s) in relation to this matter...

 “We understand that the minister may have been acting on compassionate grounds‚ however, she cannot act as a law unto herself‚ and we reiterate our call for a full investigation of this incident...‚” the DA said.

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