DA officially notifies Parliament of non-participation in in-camera SAA/Takatso deal meetings

The DA has today written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Khaya Magaxa, officially informing him of the DA’s decision not to participate in any in-camera considerations of the SAA/Takatso deal until such a time that such deliberations are opened to members of the public including the media; and the SAA/Takatso Share Sale and Purchase Agreement as well as other relevant SAA/Takatso documents are released.

This follows a decision taken by the Parliament Legal Services to concur with the secrecy sought by Minister Pravin Gordhan, where it directed that parts of the SAA/Takatso deal be shielded from public scrutiny.

Our considered view is that, by agreeing to a partial blackout on the SAA/Takatso deal documents, the Portfolio Committee is essentially abdicating its oversight responsibility over the transaction and allowing the Gordhan to infringe on parliamentary authority.

The Executive cannot dictate to Parliament on how it should conduct its business, to the extent of gagging Members of Parliament in violation of the principle of separation of powers.

Equally, the Portfolio Committee cannot abdicate on its oversight responsibility over the transaction and allow Gordhan to infringe on parliamentary authority.