Mahlobo to face parly committee over ‘lying’ about knowing Mcebo Dlamini

State Security Minister David Mahlobo, who was caught lying about his relationship with controversial student leader Mcebo Dlamini, will have to face parliament’s powers and privileges committee to explain if he lied to MPs in November.

On Wednesday, the office of the speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete announced in parliament’s announcements, tablings and committee report papers that the matter had officially been referred to the committee.

“An allegation regarding a statement made by the Minister of State Security, Mr M D Mahlobo MP, to the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, has been referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee in terms of Rule 214 for consideration and report, together with the unrevised Hansard and video recording of the proceedings in question,” the announcement reads.

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During a panel discussion on November 14, hosted by the Institute of Security Studies, a few days before he appeared in parliament, Mahlobo said he was not responsible for Dlamini’s arrest during the Fees Must Fall protests that gripped the country’s university campuses last year.

“Mcebo was brought and arrested by the police. And I happen to know Mcebo. He has been to my house several times,” said Mahlobo at the time.

Must Watch Minister David Mahlobo lie in Parliament about Mcebo Dlamini being in his house pic.twitter.com/h79qSFwWQT

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 17, 2016

However, during his question and answer session in Parliament on November 16, the minister denied knowing Dlamini.

“Firstly, the member speaks as a fact on a newspaper article, without actually putting fact to the nation. One … my answer, Madam Speaker. The meeting never took place. Mcebo Dlamini has not been to my house,” he said.

The DA had since then lodged a complaint with the office of the public protector against Mahlobo. The party’s chief whip, John Steenhuisen, on Wednesday said they were opposed to the minister being hauled before the committee.

“Any attempt to have a parliamentary committee do so instead would undermine the public protector’s investigation and may help Mahlobo avoid accountability for violating the Executive Ethics Code.

“We cannot allow the powers and privileges committee to fudge this important matter, especially amid a growing trend of members of the executive lying to the House,” Steenhuisen said.