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Minister Maropene Ramakgopa ducked yesterday’s parliamentary question session, leaving serious questions about vehicle donations and gifts unanswered.

The Minister should have used the opportunity to put these allegations to rest and make it clear whether she has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Instead, written questions submitted by the DA remain unanswered. Having already appeared before the ANC Integrity Commission, the Minister should have used the opportunity to account directly to Parliament.

The first question on the Order Paper dealt with her declaration of gifts. Given that the session was virtual, the Minister could have answered the question from virtually anywhere. Her leave of absence, citing a prior engagement, therefore raises further questions.

The Deputy Speaker has undertaken to take the matter further, indicating that she was not entirely satisfied with the Minister’s explanation.

This matter will not go away. Parliament deserves answers directly from the Minister, not from her spokesperson or Deputy Minister.

Issued by Darren Bergman MP - DA Spokesperson on Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation