“As far as I am concerned‚ he had no right to make the decision… the minister had absolutely no right to say‚ ‘I have decided I will not renew your contract’. I haven’t seen something that arrogant in quite some time‚ possibly since he was last the national commissioner‚” said DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard.
She said the committee would have to consider Cele’s actions‚ while her DA colleague on the committee‚ Zak Mbhele‚ added that the key issue was getting Cele’s reasons and explanation “so that we can assess their cogency‚ rationality and substantiveness”.
The committee agreed to give Cele until 5pm on Monday to submit reasons for his decision. They will be shared with McBride‚ who will then be expected to respond by the end of Wednesday.
McBride took Cele and the parliamentary committee to court over the matter.
On Tuesday‚ the high court in North Gauteng gave a draft order based on an agreement between the parties‚ instructing the portfolio committee to submit an affidavit by February 22 on its progress in taking a decision regarding the renewal of McBride’s contract.