‘I will not do favours for politicians in the GNU’ – new Scopa chair Songezo Zibi

The new chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Songezo Zibi, said he will not be doing any favours for the government of national unity (GNU).

Opposition parties, such as the EFF and ActionSA, said they were concerned about Zibi’s appointment to the chairpersonship of Scopa because his party Rise Mzansi was part of the GNU.

But Zibi said South Africans should be assured that he would hold those in power accountable despite his affiliation to the GNU.

No favours for GNU parties

“I also know that there are concerns, because we are part of the GNU, we are going to do favours for political parties in the GNU. Not at all,” he said.

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Zibi said he was determined to take up his new role with honour and dedication.

“First of all, the chairperson of Scopa is not a dictator, he cannot shut everyone out. There are very strong MPs in the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, they will not be bullied by me or anyone, so it is very important to also respect the people that sit on Scopa – and in any case Rise Mzansi is not part of Cabinet, so we are not privy to Cabinet decisions,” Zibi said.

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He said he would ensure that Scopa comes up with effective ways of protecting public funds, including establishing ways of working with the auditor-general, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and various ministers to ensure that the public purse is protected.  

“I think the best way of protecting the public purse is to make sure that maladministration and corruption do not happen,” he said.

The Scopa position was previously occupied by the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Mkhuleko Hlenga. Before Hlengwa, Themba Godi from the African People’s Convention (APC) occupied the position.

The Scopa position is Zibi’s first major position in parliament. He has a background in media.