MPs tangle with Tina

MPs tangle with Tina

JAN-JAN JOUBERT | 2016-09-21 06:56:07.0

Joemat-Pettersson. File photo.
Image by: Gallo Images / Beeld / Denvor de Wee / Gallo Images

Parliament's energy portfolio committee has resolved to use its constitutional powers to compel Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to produce all documents related to the proposed nuclear build programme.

In the event that she fails to comply with the instruction, Joemat-Pettersson could be found in contempt of the constitution.

Political parties from across the spectrum yesterday unanimously agreed that the minister had to produce 13 specified documents by the time the committee met again on October 11, so parliament could exercise its oversight role on the programme, which could cost as much as R1-trillion.

This is not the first time the committee has been embroiled in a political fight with Joemat-Pettersson.

She landed in trouble last year after the auditor-general complained to the committee that the minister was unco-operative.

Joemat-Pettersson has repeatedly refused to release documents related to the proposed nuclear build programme, saying they are classified.

DA MP Gordon Mackay led the charge, pointing out that the department had been dragging its feet in providing information to the public, despite many promises to do so.

Mackay came armed with a legal opinion that pointed out that the constitution empowered all portfolio committees to subpoena any information to be provided to it, and argued that information on the build programme was needed for parliament to do its job.

Mackay was supported by IFP MP Essie Esterhuizen and the ANC's MPs had no objection.

Committee chairman ANC MP Fikile Majola agreed that he was compelled to write to Joemat-Pettersson and request the reports .

"I am compelled to write to Joemat-Pettersson and request the reports in their current form. The committee has decided, in accordance with the constitution.

"I have no doubt in my mind that parliament has an absolute obligation to engage [the nuclear procurement] thoroughly," said Majola.

Mackay said the decision had reaffirmed parliament's oversight role on the affairs of state departments.

Earthlife Africa and Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute have requested the Department of Energy's documents in their legal action against the government for what they claim have been irregularities in the legal process surrounding the plan to build 9600MW of nuclear capacity.