Issued by: Department of Finance
26 April 2000
The Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, has demanded that Ken Andrew of the Democratic Party apologize to him for implying that he does not take his responsibilities to Parliament seriously.
Andrew said in a statement that the Minister had last answered an oral question in Parliament on March 15 and would only be required to so again on June 7. This accounted for his absence from parliament, he was reported as saying.
The Minister said in a statement: "I would like Ken Andrew to apologize to me for implying that I neglect my parliamentary duties. It is both opportunistic and disingenuous to use my parliamentary attendance record to make a point about the DP's dissatisfaction with the new arrangement for parliamentary questions.
I have answered all questions in parliament relevant to my department, except for those put on April 12, when I was out of the country representing South Africa at the spring meeting of the IMF. My deputy minister Mandisi Mpahlwa, was however in the National Assembly that day and ready to answer the questions.
As it happened, time for questions expired before he could do so. I take my duties to parliament seriously, as Mr Andrew should know, as he is a member of the Portfolio Finance Committee. I have appeared on no less than three occasions before the Committee in the two months since the Budget.
Moreover, any glance at the parliamentary register will show that I am in the National Assembly frequently, even if I am not required to answer questions."
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