Brian Molefe and Lucky Montana were among the new members sworn in as members of Parliament. Picture : Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA
The swearing-in of three former CEOs of state-owned enterprises that were implicated in state capture by the Zondo Commission took place on Wednesday.
This happened when National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza presided over the swearing-in ceremony of new MPs for the MK Party and the EFF.
The former CEO of Eskom, Brian Molefe, former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa CEO Lucky Montana and former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama were among the eight new MPs for the MK Party.
They were sworn in along with five others - former EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi as well as Thembisile Siboniso Mjadu, Nompumelelo Matilda Gasa, Gezani Eric Kobane, and Thulani Innocent Gamede.
Others sworn in were former EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo and Nazier Paulsen, who are taking positions previously held by the party’s former deputy president Floyd Shivambu and Manyi, who defected to join the MK Party.
The swearing in of the new MK Party parliamentarians comes after the party’s chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, wrote to Didiza last month informing her of changes to its list of MPs.
A group of 10 expelled MK Party MPs approached the Western Cape High Court this month to stop the filling of their positions as well as review and set aside the termination of their memberships in the National Assembly and from the party.
Didiza has indicated to the court that she would abide with the court’s ruling while the MK Party opposed the application.
On Wednesday, one of the expelled MPs, Thami Kuzwayo, said their understanding was that the positions that were filled yesterday were not those of the 10 that had mounted a court challenge.
Kuzwayo said the MK Party could still fill eight vacancies in the National Assembly.
“The swearing in that is taking place today is for those who have not challenged their removal. As far as the 10 others challenging their termination of membership, they are not discharged until the matter is finalised in court,” Kuzwayo said.
MK Party’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela could not immediately by reached for comment.
Cape Times
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