Decision to suspend, not fire Dipuo Peters among Ramaphosa's final round of questions before Parly

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa will be asked to explain his decision to only suspend and not fire the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, in a final round of questions before the National Assembly on Tuesday. 

Peters was found by Parliament’s ethics committee to have violated the code of ethical conduct in three instances when in her capacity as transport minister she dealt with matters at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. 

Over the last five years, the president’s question time has increasingly become more rowdy, especially after the Phala Phala farm debacle.

On Tuesday, Ramaphosa is expected to outline the government’s plans to maintain growth and create jobs in the agriculture sector through land reform, and whether he plans to intensify the Presidential Employment Stimulus. 

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen wants an update on lifestyle audits for Ramaphosa’s Cabinet that were delayed over service provider issues.

Both the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Freedom Front Plus want the president to explain the one- month-long suspension meted out to Peters, despite being implicated by the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture. 

Peters has also been suspended by Parliament for this final term. Despite the sanctions, she’s been included on the African National Congress' candidate list to return to Parliament after the May polls.