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The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Des van Rooyen noted with concern the wrong and misguided report by the Business Day Newspaper of 7 February 2018. The story is alleging that Minister failed to answer questions in the CoGTA portfolio committee held yesterday, on 06 February 2018.

“As the Minister in the democratic South Africa, I do understand that the true test of democracy is the extent to which Parliament can ensure that government remains answerable to the people, hence the importance of effective and functioning portfolio committees”, said Minister van Rooyen.

With this in mind and understanding the oversight function granted by the Constitution to Parliament to monitor and oversee government actions, there is no way that the Minister can attend such important meetings with an intention not to answer all lawful questions.

The Minister answered all the key questions posed to him, except those previously answered and those that are subjudice. The Chairperson of the portfolio committee can attest to this fact, that Minister van Rooyen did provide answers to the portfolio committee as he had always done.

The Minister said, “We remain committed to excellence and ensuring an effective and a functioning CoGTA portfolio and accountable to all the relevant structures.”

Issued by Department of Cooperative Governance