ANC MPs try to thwart DA debate on state capture
National Assembly chairwoman overrules objection to discussion as vocal group raises several points of order
A group of ANC MPs made a concerted effort to frustrate the debate on state capture in the National Assembly on Tuesday night. The debate, proposed by DA chief whip John Steenhuisen, was on the duty of Parliament to investigate and hold the executive to account on the "scourge" of state capture. Parliament’s portfolio committee on public enterprises is conducting an inquiry into the state capture of Eskom, Transnet and Denel. Before the debate started ANC MPs raised several points of order, arguing that the debate should not take place because it was in contravention of a National Assembly rule, as it would anticipate the findings of the inquiry by the portfolio committee. However, house chairwoman Thoko Didiza overruled these objections saying the rule applied to anticipating a debate that would take place in future, which was not the case in this instance. ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu also issued a statement noting "the unfortunate public utterances" by five ANC MPs accusing him...
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