Cape Town – Members of Parliament (MPs) have criticised Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan for missing another meeting regarding the South African Airways (SAA)/Takatso aviation deal, accusing him of evading accountability.
The public enterprises portfolio committee is urgently seeking a meeting with Gordhan to discuss allegations of impropriety related to the controversial deal to sell a majority stake in the state-owned airline.
Gordhan cited health reasons for his absence from the recent meeting, which forced its cancellation.
“I wish to inform the committee that I will not be able to attend the meeting because of ill-health. I have been advised this evening not to travel by air by a specialist doctor. I therefore request the committee to provide me with an alternative date to enable me to respond to the allegations,” he said in his written communication.
This marked the second time he postponed a meeting on this matter.
The committee said it is open to travelling to meet Gordhan and has scheduled an invitation for him to appear in the second week of September, EWN reported.
“Even if it culminates in us going there if it’s difficult for the minister to fly. This medical issue became really a constraint to his capacity to fly. We will have to comply with it,” the report quoted Khaya Magaxa as saying.
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Nqobile Mhlongo criticised Gordhan’s absence, characterising it as an attempt to avoid answering questions and evade accountability.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
