Parliament denies Speaker Didiza is shielding witnesses in corruption probe

Parliament asserts that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza followed relevant legislation when she declined a request to subpoena Paul O'Sullivan and Brown Mogotsi to appear physically before a parliamentary ad hoc committee.

This follows Didiza’s decision to decline the request from the ad hoc committee probing police corruption to subpoena O’Sullivan and Mogotsi. The two have refused to appear physically before the inquiry to give evidence, citing security demands that have not been met by Parliament.

However, Parliament says the assertion that Didiza is protecting them is incorrect and mischaracterises both the Speaker's role and the legal basis upon which the decisions were taken.

ANC Chief Whip and ad hoc committee member, Mdumiseni Ntuli, explained Didiza's decision.

"So when the Speaker was intervening, essentially what she was saying, which was to guide us, which I think is her responsibility as the senior leader in the institution, it was to guide us that before you conclude that these people must be subpoenaed in a way that you want to do it, you're going to have to make sure that you’ve adhered to the following processes, you’ve dealt with their concerns, and you’ve addressed them one by one."