The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has rejected a request by Cyril Ramaphosa to extend the deadline for responding to written questions submitted by Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
The committee had earlier sent the president a series of questions relating to allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and possible political interference within the country’s justice system. Ramaphosa has asked for additional time to submit his responses, proposing a new deadline of Monday, 16 March.
However, MKP representative Sibonelo Nomvalo argued that the president has already had enough time to prepare his answers and should comply with the original timeframe set by the committee.
Nomvalo said granting the extension could undermine the committee’s ability to properly assess the responses and raise follow-up questions where necessary.
According to him, delaying the submission until a later date would limit members’ opportunity to scrutinise the answers before the committee concludes its work.
“We cannot accept the explanation for extending the deadline to the 16th,” Nomvalo said during the committee proceedings. “Many people have raised concerns about time constraints, yet the president is also not adhering to the timelines set for him. If the responses arrive just as the committee is nearing the end of its process, it will prevent us from asking further questions where answers may be incomplete or unsatisfactory.”
The ad hoc committee was established to examine the allegations and gather information from various stakeholders, including the presidency.
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