programme
14 January 2009
The 22-member Joint Ad-hoc Committee to consider President Kgalema
Motlanthe's decision to remove National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi
Pikoli from his position has agreed on a programme that will see it wrap up its
work by 29 January 2009.
Parliament's National Assembly (NA) is expected to vote on the committee's
report on 30 January and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is expected
to do the same on 3 February.
The committee will be calling Advocate Pikoli to make a presentation to it
on Tuesday, 20 January. The presidency has also been asked to make a
presentation â on Wednesday, 21 January 2009.
Committee co-chair Tekera (Oupa, Ephraim) Monareng said that it was unclear
at this stage whether the President himself would make the presentation.
Monareng and Kgoshi ML Mokoena were elected co-chairs of the committee.
The committee's task is to recommend to the Houses of Parliament whether
Advocate Pikoli should be restored to office or not. The powers given to the
committee are in line with Joint Rule 32 of the Rules of Parliament. The
committee has the same general powers that other committees of Parliament have,
including the right to summon any person to appear before it to give evidence
or to produce documents.
Rather than simply referring the matter to plenary sessions of the NA and
NCOP, Parliament decided on a more involved internal process to enable a more
detailed consideration of the President's decision and a thorough process to
inform its final position on the matter.
The committee's co-chairpersons emphasised the need for openness,
transparency and accountability in the process.
For more information or enquiries, please contact:
Luzuko Jacobs
Tel: 021 403 2124
Cell: 082 906 1438
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
14 January 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za)
