The DA has received a response to our urgent correspondence to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, following the ANC’s delaying of the Nkandla ad hoc committee.
 
The DA had written to Mr Sisulu following our concerns that the ANC was delaying the start of the committee by not timeously submitting the names of ANC MPs who will serve on the committee.

Given that the committee must report back to Parliament by 30 April 2014, we had argued time is of the essence and the committee must meet this week.
 
The Speaker makes it clear in his correspondence that he agrees that the committee should begin its work “as soon as possible”.
 
Indeed, that is the reason why we immediately submitted the names of our nominees to the Secretary of Parliament soon after it was announced.

 
It is disappointing that the Speaker does not use the powers we believe he is empowered to use to encourage the ANC to speed up their nomination.

 
Regardless, given the Speaker’s clear note that the committee should begin as soon as possible, I will challenge the ANC Chief Whip to submit their names by close of business today.
 

It must be asked why the ANC is finding it so difficult to find MPs to serve on this committee. Is it because few are willing to try and defend the President? Or could it perhaps be because everyone in the ANC caucus knows that they can’t justifiably do so?
 

The ANC parliamentary caucus should get their act together, stop attempting to delay the committee any further, and submit the names to Parliament so the committee can begin work this week.
 

 
The rest of South Africa is watching and they now want answers.