Gigaba ducks Parliament committee meeting

The spotlight has again been shone on the failure of Parliament to hold the executive accountable on matters involving the Gupta family, notes Legalbrief. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and his successor as Minister of Home Affairs, Hlengiwe Mkhize, were due to appear before the Home Affairs Committee yesterday to answer on the awarding of citizenship to the Gupta family during Gigaba's tenure at Home Affairs. Gigaba informed the committee that he was unable to make it due to ‘prior commitments’ and Mkhize also couldn't attend, because she is overseas. Faith Muthambi, who is acting Minister of Home Affairs, was also unable to attend because of ‘prior commitments’. Opposition MPs were not impressed, but ANC's enthusiasm to call Gigaba, which was evident a week before, seem to have evaporated, suggests a News24 report. ANC MP Donald Gumede said on two occasions ‘Parliament should respect Cabinet’. ‘Maybe it's time for the executive to start respecting the houses of Parliament,’ said FF Plus MP Corné Mulder. ‘The disrespect is on the part of the executive,’ said DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen, attending the committee on behalf of Haniff Hoosen. ‘The Constitution doesn't mention respect. It says accountability.’