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The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration/Monitoring and Evaluation has resolved to summon the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Faith Muthambi, the Director-General and the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Principal of the National School of Government and the CEO of the Centre for Public Service Innovation to appear before the Committee.

The decision to summon the said individuals was made as a result of their failure to attend a scheduled meeting of the Committee without giving reasons for their non-attendance. 

The Committee was scheduled to receive a report on allegations that the department flew numerous family members and friends of the Minister to Cape Town at a huge cost to the department. The alleged trip was undertaken to attend the department’s budget vote debate in Parliament. The Committee was also going to receive reports on the performance of the two entities over the two previous quarters.

The Committee is disappointed that the Minister did not honour an invitation to attend the meeting as scheduled. “The decision to summon her was a result of her disregard for the Committee, which borders on undermining the work of the Committee and Parliament as a whole,” said Dr Makhosi Khoza, the Chairperson of the Committee.

The Committee reiterates its principled view that oversight and accountability forms the bedrock of South Africa’s constitutional democracy. In line with this, the Committee will ensure that the Executives are held to account for every action that is undertaken. “What is important to the Committee is ensuring good governance, and that money is spent where it is budgeted for. In light of financial shortfalls within government, every cent must be spend prudently to ensure that a little goes a long way,” Dr Khoza reiterated.

The Committee will engage the parliamentary legal services to ascertain the correct process to be followed in implementing the resolution. This will also include the possibility of ensuring that those officials who travelled to Cape Town personally reimburse the public purse the money used in making those travel arrangements.

Furthermore, guidance will be sought from the House Chairperson: Committees on the process to be followed in implementing the decision of the Committee.

The summons will be issued at the earliest possible time possible for the Minister and officials to appear before the Committee at its next scheduled meeting next week.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration/Monitoring and Evaluation, Makhosi Khoza