The Portfolio Committee on Transport is worried by recent media reports attributed to Mr Ian Ollis, a member of the Committee, following a strategic session by the Portfolio Committee.
The Independent online and other news agencies reported suggestions attributed to Mr Ollis that the Committee held a meeting which was not open to the public and media. These reports are factually inaccurate and the Committee is disturbed by the fact that they come from a member of the Committee. These reports seek to project the Committee as a clandestine group operating in dark corners and hiding things from the general public.
The Portfolio Committee on Transport is an extension of the National Assembly and is obliged by Section 59(1) (b) of the Constitution to conduct its business in an open manner and hold its sittings in public. While the National Assembly Rule 152 makes provision for Committees to hold closed meetings, this requires prior approval from the Speaker of the National Assembly. The Committee would like to put it on record that for this specific session such approval was not applied for by the Chairperson, Ms Ruth Bhengu.
The Strategic Session has been a standing item for the Committee since the current Chairperson was appointed in 2009, and there was a similar session in March 2012 which Mr Ollis attended. It is also worth noting that the Strategic Session appeared on the weekly committee meeting schedule of Parliament and there was no mention, as is standard practice, that the meeting would be held behind closed doors. The Committee acknowledges that Mr Ollis is new to the Committee and this might have contributed to him confusing the meeting and believing that it was a closed session.
Ms Bhengu highlighted that the retention of the initial Committee members that were deployed in 2009 was important for the effective and efficient functioning of the Committee. The Committee is also of the view that party political affiliations have no room in the work of Committees. The Committee remains committed to the ethos of openness and accountability and will continue to conduct its work of scrutinising the executive in public.
For media enquiries and interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Malatswa Evans Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 0732971914
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
