MPs lash out at Macpherson for his latest absence from committee meeting

Last year’s building collapse in George turned into a political hot potato in Parliament on Wednesday, as months of tensions between the public works committee and Minister Dean Macpherson boiled over.

Macpherson’s absence to attend to party political work has incensed the committee, which has resolved to report him to the National Assembly Speaker.

The committee refused to accept an apology letter from Macpherson, saying he had missed too many meetings and his excuses did not suffice.

Wednesday’s meeting was called to discuss a forensic report into the building collapse in which more than 30 people died.

Relations between Macpherson and Parliament’s portfolio committee have been frosty from the onset of this administration.

In his latest letter to the committee, Macpherson said he would complain to the House chairperson because previous requests for Wednesday meetings to be moved because they clashed with Cabinet commitments had been ignored.

But the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Sharon Letlape said the committee was tired of the excuses and Macpherson' absences.

"It’s not an apology. It’s disrespect, it’s a middle finger towards this committee and towards this item that we must be discussing today."

ActionSA's Malebo Kobe agreed: "Every single time the minister must come and account here, he’s too busy. But he will fill a room with journalists and tell them the work he’s supposed to tell us."

MPs later turned the matter into a political one, questioning why a Democratic Alliance (DA) minister was snubbing a meeting that involved a DA-run municipality.

Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, however, was on hand to answer MPs' questions.

ALSO READ:

• MPs left fuming after being denied access to full forensic report on George building collapse

• Some George building collapse survivors happy with Macpherson’s assurance

• George building collapse: Minister saddened by findings

• George building collapse: Developer, contractor, engineer at fault - Engineering council

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