ANC urges MPs to respect ministers

THE ANC has laid down the law for its members in Parliament, calling on them to treat cabinet ministers with respect.

Briefing the media in Parliament yesterday, ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said MPs were allowed to "probe", but not "harass or belittle" cabinet ministers.

"A distinction should be made between a Parliament that is probing, robust and carries its mandate without fear or favour, and that which harasses, wags fingers, ridicules, belittles and generally disrespects those who appear before it," Motshekga said.

Motshekga conceded that the constitution required cabinet ministers to account to Parliament.

"They must appear before all committees, including Scopa, if required to do so.''

Last year Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was at loggerheads with Scopa - whose members called on her to appear before them. They wanted Sisulu to brief them on the alleged dire financial situation in her ministry.