MPs bemoan McKenzie's Parliament absenteeism record
The heads of the South African Football Association (SAFA) and South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) met with members of Parliament (MPs) for a briefing on SAFA’s finances and other related matters.
- South African Football Association (SAFA)
- South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC)
- Parliament
FILE: PA leader and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was a noticeable absentee on Tuesday as two of the country’s biggest sports governing bodies appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on Sport, Arts and Culture.
The heads of the South African Football Association (SAFA) and South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) met with members of Parliament (MPs) for a briefing on SAFA’s finances and other related matters.
African National Congress (ANC) MP David Kgabo took exception to the minister’s repeated absence and raised his discontent at McKenzie failing to attend yet another portfolio committee.
“It has now become a norm for the minister not to appear before the committee; it has now become a norm for the minister to undermine the deliberations and discussions taking place in the portfolio committee. To a large extent, the minister has concluded that he is not going to account to this portfolio committee.”
McKenzie had sent an apology to the committee as he’s in Brazil on an official visit.
But Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Eugene Mthethwa called on the committee to reject the apology
“I think this committee must develop a policy around this issue of appearance, which will resolve the matters instead of us dealing with this matter in bits and pieces. I think we must develop a policy that says you can’t miss three consecutive meetings, that’s unacceptable. And let us note this committee is not accepting the apology of the minister.”