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Congress of the People (COPE) condemns failure of the Minister Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson to attend a meeting today without valid reasons.

The meeting of Parliament’s Select Committee on Land and Environment affairs in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) was facilitated by the Minister who also determined the time and the agenda.

We view her failure to attend the meeting in a serious light especially because she only notified the Secretary of the Committee through SMS at 9: am today. The Minister’s conduct has displayed her complete disregard for NCOP Parliamentary rules and lack of respect for Parliament.

She has constantly displayed arrogance for Parliamentary process in terms oversight of her department even though her department is non-functional with a corruption cloud hanging.

We will write a letter to the committee secretary requesting to summon her to appear and face the committee without excuses.