MP raises concerns over Mathale's lack of delegation powers in Parliament

ANC MP Xola Nqola said that the testimony by Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, has been worrisome as it showed that, despite being a deputy minister, he does not have delegation powers.

Nqola was speaking before he questioned Mathale, who appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mathale testified that while they do not have delegated powers, he said that they did have work to do.

He said that he believed that the minister was still familiarising himself with the role, “but that I think he is ready now”.

Nqola said that not only did the deputy minister’s testimony show that there was no proper consultation process that was followed in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), but also an issue of the delegation of powers.

“I think part of what he has been emphatic on is the fact that there was no proper consultation process that was followed in relation to the decision to disband the PKTT, but I think what's more glaring is that he conceded to not have delegation powers until today, which is quite worrisome because how do they work if they don't have delegation powers?

“They wake up, and go to the office and do what? Because there are no specific areas that are delegated by the minister to them. It's one of the problems that I think needs to be looked at. Of course, this process is assisting us in trying to get to understand the way they work and all that, but I think he's emphatic on the consultation process,” Nqola said.

“He makes assertions that the PKTT has done tremendous work and that, in his view, to disband that hard-working structure would not have been a very proper or rational decision.

“He does not think that the minister should have acted the way he did; that had he been able to at least consult, engage, and brief, maybe he would have been assisted to arrive at a different decision.”

In his testimony, Mathale echoed the sentiments previously expressed by Nqola and Mchunu that the ANC has a range of characters within its ranks.

Previously, Nqola said: “He (Oupa Brown Mogotsi) apparently seems to be the one who has bested this thing, going around making lies, claiming non-existent relationships, and all those things, but Mchunu was able to explain that, look, contained within the organisation called the ANC, is a lot of characters - a lot of thieves, a lot of witches, and a lot of pastors. It’s a multi-class organisation.”

Earlier this month, the ANC issued a statement to deny Mogotsi’s membership.

“The ANC has noted recent allegations that certain individuals, including Mr Oupa Brown Mogotsi, are alleged to be involved in serious organised criminal activity. Our membership records confirm that Mr Mogotsi’s ANC membership has expired. We now can confirm that Mr Mogotsi is therefore not an ANC member,” it said.

Nqola said that the ANC is a very big organisation, and that part of what the ANC is rich on is formulating a culture of discipline.

“The problem is that not all those who say they are members of the ANC actually do subject themselves to the disciplinary systems of the ANC. We've got a code of conduct for all members, but of course, it does not take away the fact that we are going to find some rotten potatoes amongst the good working members of the ANC.

“But in relation to Mogotsi, I think the secretary-general is on record saying Mogotsi is no longer a member of the ANC, so we'll take the word of the SG,” Nqola said.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za