By The Deputy President of South Africa Mr Paul Mashatile has written to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Refilwe Maria Tsipane MP, to postpone today’s oral reply to questions session.
According to the Presidency, the NCOP Chairperson has granted the request to postpone the sitting. In his letter, Mashatile pointed out that the postponement is due to the funeral of the fallen struggle veteran and former Minister Mr Pravin Gordhan taking place today as well; this is to afford members to attend the funeral.
He also pointed out that, following his health scare over the weekend in Tzaneen, as per Doctors orders, he is resting and recuperating. The Acting Spokesperson to Mashatile; Mr Keith Khoza; affirmed that the Deputy President is out of danger and is just following medical instruction to rest for a week.
“The Deputy President, as he has demonstrated since his appointment to office during the 6th Administration, takes parliamentary oversight extremely seriously and has worked tirelessly during his time in office to boost the national executive’s accountability to the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. As such, the he will work closely with the NCOP Chairperson to find a suitable date for the rescheduling of the session as soon as possible.
The Deputy President looks forward to having an opportunity to apprise Parliament of the Government of National Unity’s efforts to improve municipal governance and service delivery, accelerate the process of land reform and boost South Africa’s agricultural output and food security, as well as the imminent rollout of plans to fight crime and deal with the emergent scourge of criminal extortion and other forms of economic sabotage,” said Keith Khoza.
Khoza said an alternative date for the NCOP session will be arranged as soon as they are agreed and finalised.
