Parly's Agri Portfolio Committee members unhappy about Steenhuisen's behaviour

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is set to receive a stern rebuke from Parliament’s portfolio committee over the way he interacts with its members.

Committee members have also complained that his staff have allegedly been secretly recording them without their permission, during oversight visits.

Steenhuisen’s political nemesis, ActionSA’s Athol Trollip, raised the matter at a meeting on Tuesday - prompting committee chairperson Dina Pule to add that she’s also been less than impressed by Steenhuisen’s behaviour.

Since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Steenhuisen and department officials have been providing weekly updates to the parliamentary portfolio committee on the disaster management programme.

Steenhuisen and Trollip - a former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader - have regularly been trading barbs both in the committee and in the house over Steenhuisen’s handling of the outbreak.

But Trollip has now complained to the committee that Steenhuisen, who was not in this week’s meeting, has gone too far.

“There’s a personalisation now between the minister and myself, and it’s unfortunate, because I don’t represent myself in this committee. I represent constituencies who are affected by foot-and-mouth disease.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Laeticia Arries said the chairperson should complain to Cabinet.

“Portfolio committee meetings cannot become the battlefield to sort out his petty squabbles that he has with honourable Trollip.”

Pule said she plans to raise the matter with Steenhuisen at the next meeting.

“We were working very well until this foot-and-mouth disease, and the relations are now changing, and I don’t think it’s correct that one member should be targeted.”

Steenhuisen’s office declined to comment on the complaints when approached by EWN.