Note to Editors: Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English
The DA notes with concern the recent confrontation by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi towards KZN CoGTA Chairperson, Marlaine Nair, during a portfolio committee meeting held last week Friday.
This after Chairperson Nair rightly raised questions in a recent media statement around the proposed medical aid and pension plan for Amakhosi – traditional leaders- in the province.
In her statement, Chairperson Nair requested clarity regarding the budget source for the pensions and medical aid, how the initiative was initiated, and whether sustainability had been considered. These are fundamental governance and financial questions. They are not objections to the principle, but to the process.
During the committee meeting, the MEC stated that he viewed Chairperson Nair’s statement as a personal attack, in essence discouraging the committee from ever questioning any of his or his departments decisions.
In response to a DA question during the meeting, on whether CoGTA had sought concurrence or review from provincial Treasury, MEC Buthelezi initially stated he did not need Treasury’s approval. Upon being reminded of the legal requirement under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), he later claimed to have consulted provincial Treasury. This contradictory position raises serious questions around whether due process was followed.
In terms of oversight, the chair’s role as a legislator is not to criticise for the sake of criticism, but to ensure that government functions with integrity, openness and in line with law. The questions posed by Chairperson Nair were legitimate, necessary and entirely in keeping with the committee’s mandate.
Under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), new financial obligations by a department generally require concurrence or review by provincial Treasury. This, to ensure that any additional obligations do not compromise the province’s fiscal stability.
It is regrettable that Chairperson Nair – acting in her constitutional duty to oversee executive function – was confronted in such a manner during a public meeting. Oversight is not adversarial by nature – it is foundational to the system of checks and balances.
The DA urges all political parties – including MEC Buthelezi – to respect the role of the legislature and to address questions from committee chairs with openness rather than hostility. We do not oppose proposals that improve the welfare of traditional leaders. However, every such proposal must rest on a firm foundation of fiscal discipline, transparency and procedural propriety.
The confrontation during the portfolio meeting was unnecessary. More importantly, the contradictions in the MEC’s statements merit deeper scrutiny.
As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA remains ready to engage constructively however, we will also continue to hold KZN’s executive to account. The people of our province deserve nothing less.