National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has ruled that Malusi Gigaba’s removal as co-chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence did not follow the correct procedure.
Didiza has instructed the committee to revert to the composition that existed before Gigaba was removed until the proper parliamentary processes have been completed.
The decision follows a dispute over Gigaba’s removal by the African National Congress (ANC), which replaced him with fellow ANC MP Mzimasi Hala during Wednesday’s meeting.
The Joint Standing Committee on Defence consists of members from both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Gigaba’s removal came without an explanation to other committee members, prompting objections from opposition parties.
Didiza Questions Procedure Used To Remove Gigaba
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Carl Niehaus objected to the election of a new co-chairperson without first receiving an explanation about Gigaba’s removal.
“You said Dr Gigaba has been relieved of his duties. I think we as members of this community before we go into an election process, we need to know has he resigned?” said Niehaus.
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Following the meeting, the EFF wrote to Didiza questioning whether the correct procedure had been followed and raising concerns about the ANC’s conduct during the proceedings.
Didiza subsequently responded to the opposition party in writing.
ANC Must Follow Parliamentary Process
In her response, Didiza said her office had not received formal communication from the ANC regarding any change to Gigaba’s membership of the committee.
She said the absence of such communication meant the change could not be regarded as procedurally valid.
Didiza agreed that the “purported change in the membership of Dr Gigaba without any formal communication is not procedurally correct”.
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The Speaker said the committee must therefore return to its previous composition before the election of a new co-chairperson, pending the ANC following the required process and formally communicating the change through parliamentary channels.
For now, Gigaba remains part of the committee’s composition until the appropriate procedures have been followed.
