Ethics committee clears DA MP

[LazyLion]

DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard has been cleared of "breaching confidentiality" related to misconduct hearings against former communications minister Dina Pule.

Parliament's ethics committee confirmed this on Thursday after weighing claims that Kohler-Barnard had posted regular updates on her Facebook page during the hearings.

The African National Congress alleged the information was published in The Post newspaper in August.

The parliamentary code of conduct enjoins all MPs and staff serving on the committee to take an oath of confidentiality.

The committee said in a statement: "[We] considered the matter and dismissed the allegations against Ms Kohler-Barnard."

The committee agreed to refer the Post newspaper to the Press Ombudsman for publishing misleading information which could negatively impact on Kohler-Barnard's reputation.

On August 22, ANC chief whip Stone Sizani accused Kohler-Barnard of "violating her oath of confidentiality".

Sizani said by "disclosing information pertaining to the proceedings of the confidential hearing on social media, Ms Kohler-Barnard violated the ethics code, undermined the integrity of the process and brought the institution into disrepute".

He had asked the Speaker's office to "investigate the MP's improper conduct, penalise her and remove her from the ethics committee".

The Democratic Alliance later demanded an apology from Sizani, which was not forthcoming.

Kohler-Barnard had also threatened Sizani with legal action.

The DA MP was on the committee which recommended that Pule be suspended by Parliament for the scandal that saw her boyfriend benefit from state funding.


Source : Sapa /cp/hdw/jk/aa
Date : 17 Oct 2013 15:23

 

[LazyLion]

Kohler-Barnard consulting lawyers

The DA is consulting its legal team on possible action against ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani, DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard said on Thursday.

Kohler-Barnard was on Wednesday cleared of breaching confidentiality related to misconduct hearings against former communications minister Dina Pule.

The investigation, by Parliament's ethics committee, followed public statements by Sizani that the DA MP violated her oath of confidentiality by posting updates on Facebook during the hearings.

The parliamentary code of conduct enjoins all MPs and staff serving on the committee to take an oath of confidentiality.

"The Democratic Alliance is today discussing with legal representatives what legal action should be taken against Mr Sizani for this defamatory attack on my character," Kohler-Barnard said.

The ANC said the information was published in The Post in August, an allegation the newspaper later denied.

"I have the maximum 5000 friends on Facebook, many of whom are journalists, and as there was never a word about the hearings on my page, nothing was ever published or broadcast on radio or television," Kohler-Barnard said.

"I consider Mr Sizani's comments to have been libellous and a vicious personal attack on my integrity and ethical behaviour."

In its ruling on Wednesday, the ethics committee said: "[We] considered the matter and dismissed the allegations against Ms Kohler-Barnard."

The DA MP was on the committee which recommended that Pule be suspended by Parliament for the scandal that saw her boyfriend benefit from state funding.


Source : Sapa /cp/hdw/th/jk
Date : 17 Oct 2013 16:12

 

[daveza]

And silence from all the anc fanboys.

 

[Sherbang]

And silence from all the anc fanboys.

Well done to the ANC for creating a fair and independent parliamentary ethics committee that shows no bias toward the ruling party!

 

[daveza]

Well done to the ANC for creating a fair and independent parliamentary ethics committee that shows no bias toward the ruling party!

Mac Maharaj, someone is after your job.

 

[Crowley]

Mac Maharaj, someone is after your job.

He has to beat MWEB Guy first.

 

[Seriously]

Well done to the ANC for creating a fair and independent parliamentary ethics committee that shows no bias toward the ruling party!

What about against the cultural clown Zuma then? Bwahahahaha!

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Well done to the ANC for creating a fair and independent parliamentary ethics committee that shows no bias toward the ruling party!

You know it's not just the ANC that makes up the committee, right?

And Ben Turok is chairman, he's one of the relatively okay guys left.

 

[Humberto]

"I consider Mr Sizani's comments to have been libellous and a vicious personal attack on my integrity and ethical behaviour."

I think "vicious personal attack on my integrity and ethical behaviour" is an exaggeration.

These types of things will become more common leading up to the elections. I'm afraid the DA set a bad precedent for gutter politics when they erected their e-toll billboards.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I think "vicious personal attack on my integrity and ethical behaviour" is an exaggeration.

These types of things will become more common leading up to the elections. I'm afraid the DA set a bad precedent for gutter politics when they erected their e-toll billboards.

Gutter politics? By making the ANC own up to their own policy decision? Who'd they insult? Who'd they unscrupulously attack?

 

[Hemi300c]

The DA might have to play a bit "dirty" but the cANCer is dirty and the DA needs to open the masses eyes snd minds to the truth. There was no misconception in the billboards perhaps the truth hurts.

 

[Seriously]

I think "vicious personal attack on my integrity and ethical behaviour" is an exaggeration.

These types of things will become more common leading up to the elections. I'm afraid the DA set a bad precedent for gutter politics when they erected their e-toll billboards.

Me again believe that the cANCer set their own bad president for gutter politics by showing their criminal and corrupt tendencies in every project, financial accounts and budget they manage. Good for DA to make the knowledge and information available to the general public.