The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Committee has charged African Nation Congress (ANC) MP and former Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane with contempt of Parliament.

Zwane failed to obey the resolution of the National Assembly at its sittings in May and September 2023.

Hi matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker of the National Assembly after he failed to enter an apology in the National Assembly for contravening the Code of Ethics.

Parliament’s ethics committee found Zwane guilty of a slew of charges emanating from his time in office under former President Jacob Zuma, and recommended he be suspended from parliamentary debates for one term.

The committee found Zwane received benefits and hospitality that weren’t disclosed to Parliament; and he did not provide documentary evidence to confirm he paid for the travel, hotel stay and chauffeur.

Zwane also failed to disclose registrable interests for the period 2015/16 thereby breaching the Code of Ethics, for which the committee recommended he forfeit five days’ salary.

Zwane pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of Parliament for failing to appear before the National Assembly during both sittings, and provided reasons for his failure to appear before the National Assembly on the two occasions, but the committee said no evidence was presented.

Parliament-appointed Initiator advocate Zuko Mapoma, had proposed a sanction to dock 50% of Zwane’s monthly salary and for him to enter an apology in the National Assembly by no later than March 29.

The committee agreed with the sanction proposed by the Initiator and resolved that the sanction would be effective from March 1.