Namhla Tshisela

Namhla Tshisela

The DA has referred Gauteng MEC for education Angie Motshekga to the Integrity Commission for her alleged contravention of the code of conduct of MECs and members of parliament.

Jack Bloom, DA chief whip in the Gauteng legislature, said Motshekga had neglected her duties as MEC by putting her loyalty to the ANC first.

This follows Motshekga's failure to attend a Education Ministry council meeting last week, instead opting to attend ANC president Jacob Zuma's case at the supreme court of appeal in Bloemfontein.

"I am not employed by the Gauteng education department. I am employed by the ANC and when the ANC deploys me I will go," said Motshekga when asked why she had missed the meeting.

Bloom said: "She has contravened the code of conduct by putting her party loyalty above her duty as MEC.

"Her accountability to the public should be her prime responsibility, not attending court cases."

Bloom also criticised Motshekga's visit to Bhukulani Secondary School in Soweto with Zuma last week as "highly irregular".

"It was wrong for Zuma to campaign at the school and Motshekga should not have allowed him to turn the visit into an election rally," said Bloom.

He said Motshekga had been referred to the Integrity Commission twice already in the past three years and could be "suspended for a limited period" if found guilty.

The Department of Education and Ccommission could not be reached for comment.