Issuing a subpoena to force witnesses to testify before SCOPA an option of last resort - Zibi

Chairperson of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Songezo Zibi, said that issuing a subpoena to force witnesses to testify before it was an option of last resort.

It follows discussions of the committee on Friday on the correspondence of the former Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO, Collins Letsoalo, who has sent the committee a number of conditions in exchange for his testimony.

Parliament wants to hear from Letsoalo early in November, once former board members and executives have delivered their testimony.

In letters to Parliament, Letsoalo questioned the authority of SCOPA to conduct an inquiry into the fund, saying it should be collaborating with the transport committee.

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On Friday, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Ntombovuyo Mente tended to agree with Letsoalo. 

She said that testimony heard so far amounted to character assassination, and SCOPA was giving false hope to witnesses who have testified about unfair labour practices, which fall outside its scope.

"We are hearing things that can’t do absolutely nothing about them, and if we want to rescue this situation, my suggestion would be let’s have a joint inquiry with the portfolio committee of transport, not them as invitees."

But Zibi said this would result in a protracted process and delay the committee’s oversight.

"I really want to assure members, we really, with everybody, have been quite accommodating, and when I look at what other committees do, people get told to come on a certain date, and they must come."

The committee said it would again write to Letsoalo to encourage his voluntary appearance on the specified dates.