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ActionSA is appalled by the decision of the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, to institute legal proceedings against Parliament after being found guilty of breaching the Code of Ethical Conduct over racist and classist remarks.

This matter arose from a complaint lodged by ActionSA following comments made by Minister Macpherson in which he called ActionSA supporters “Amapharas” and “Hobos”. Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found Macpherson to be in contravention of the Code, after which the National Assembly adopted the Committee’s findings and sanction. 

Rather than accepting responsibility and offering an apology, Minister Macpherson has chosen to drag Parliament itself to court in an attempt to overturn the consequences of his own conduct. This astonishing course of action sends the message that, when held accountable for racism and classism, Macpherson believes the problem lies not with his conduct, but with the institutions that found him guilty.

It is deeply concerning that a sitting Cabinet Minister, entrusted with upholding South Africa’s constitutional order, would seek to undermine the authority of Parliament simply because he disagrees with its findings. Instead of apologising and respecting Parliament’s decision, Minister Macpherson now seeks to erase the record and challenge the very rules designed to ensure ethical conduct among Members.

ActionSA will continue to defend the authority of Parliament and oppose any attempt to weaken the standards of ethical conduct expected of public representatives.

Issued by ActionSA Member of Parliament Alan Beesley MP