Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Legislature
2 December 1997
The Gauteng Legislature today (Tuesday) passed a motion of censure against African National Congress MPL Mr Oupa Monareng, effectively suspending him from the legislature for three months and imposing a R3000 fine.
This is the latest sequel to the conviction of Mr Monareng's last year on a charge of attempting to bribe a policeman after being found with a stolen vehicle.
At the time, Mr Monareng was a member of the Public Safety and Security Standing Committee, which became an aggravating factor. The ANC subsequently withdrew him from the Standing Committee.
The decision to suspend Mr Monareng follows a ruling by the newly-established Privileges Committee that the motion be forwarded to the legislature.
"Mr Monareng's conduct had brought the House into disrepute and some form of censure had to be imposed on him...both as a deterrent and as an indication that the honour of the House is highly regarded," the motion noted.
He has been suspended from the House for three months from December 2 and, therefore, cannot be on the precincts of the legislature. A R3000 fine was also imposed.
The motion means Mr Monareng received a public reprimand usually used in industrial/labour relations matters.
"This is an indication of the severity with which the House will deal with matters of this nature," said Speaker Mr Trevor Fowler.
"The House is a popularly-elected institution and as such represents the integrity of the people of Gauteng. Any matter that impacts negatively on the integrity must be dealt with appropriately. It is incumbent on legislators to follow the Constitution both in letter and spirit," added Mr Fowler.
Mr Fowler said the matter had now been laid to rest.
"This is ample proof that the moral fibre of the House and its members must be maintained by all MPLs.
"When someone is elected to the provincial legislature, that person is expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as public representatives. The stature of duly elected-representatives obtains both within and outside the House," Mr Fowler concluded.