Latest news with #Lekganyane
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Lekganyane calls for integrity amid Mkhwanazi allegations
ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane has been appointed by parliament to chair the newly formed ad hoc committee that will look into claims of corruption in the South African Police Service. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane has called on MPs to do their work in the name of South Africans when they investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 'All the eyes of the people of the Republic are on this committee, and all the hopes of the people of this country are on us. Wherever there could have been unscrupulous activities, South Africans will want to hear us rise into the occasion speaking on their behalf,' Lekganyane said. Lekganyane was elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee following his nomination by ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, seconded by IFP MP Albert Mncwango. EFF MP Julius Malema turned down a nomination by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, saying: 'I am not available.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Lekganyane thanked the MPs for showing confidence when they elected him as chairperson. He noted that previous surveys showed that South Africans were losing confidence in public institutions, including Parliament. The last survey by Afrobarometer showed the confidence level of South Africans in Parliament was standing at 27%, he said. 'It is up to us, all of us sitting here, to say those confidence levels are what we represent, or do they represent us as MPs. If we are happy, this is what represents us or if this is what we represent, we will continue to work as if there is nothing that reflects how we do our work, but my feeling is that all of us here, and which I will urge all of you, is that we have been appointed from a position of incompetence,' Lekganyane said. 'And every day when we do our work, let's find a way to do better so that we can improve from the incompetence that anybody outside looking at us would say 'we elected these men and women and in some way, this is what they have done and we don't think it represents us as South Africans'. 'We have a duty here to raise the flag of the Parliament of the Republic and reignite the confidence of the people of South Africa in Parliament as an institution that can represent them to the best of its abilities,' he said. Lekganyane was hopeful that MPs from across the political divide would work together on the mandate they have been given until the end of October. 'I was very impressed when I arrived here; almost everybody was here. This is the kind of attitude and work ethic that will take us to greater heights. I want to give you 100% for the manner we responded to the call and thank the organisers of this meeting for the work you have done.' Lekganyane is currently the co-chairperson of the Joint Committee on Financial Management of Parliament. He previously served as the MEC for local government and human settlements in Limpopo between 2009 and 2012. When he was elected as ANC provincial secretary, he resigned from the provincial legislature and returned in 2014 to serve as chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Finance. In 2018, he was again elected as the ANC provincial secretary and then elected as an MP in 2024. 'The period between 2022 and 2024, I worked with the Minister of Basic Education, Minister (Angie) Motshekga, as her special advisor. I have four university qualifications, among them there is a law degree and an Honours degree in political science,' said Lekganyane when he introduced himself after his election as committee chairperson. Cape Times
eNCA
7 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Soviet Lekganyana elected chairperson of Parliament's Mkhwanazi inquiry
JOHANNESBURG - The ANC's Soviet Lekganyane, will chair the parliamentary committee probing claims of corruption and political meddling in the police and judiciary. Lekganyane was elected on Tuesday as Parliament's Ad Hoc committee met for the first time. READ: Three parly committees to probe Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's claims The 11 member panel, made up of proportional party representatives, has until October 31 to carry out its duties and report back to the National Assembly. Its terms of reference include the controversial disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. The committee was formed following explosive claims made by KZN police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, implicating Mchunu, politicians, and even members of the judiciary. Lekganyane says the committee's responsibility will be to rebuild public trust in parliamentary processes.
IOL News
7 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Soviet Lekganyane calls for integrity in Parliament amid Mkhwanazi allegations
Newly-elected chairperson Soviet Lekganyane says MPs, serving on the Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, have a duty here to raise the flag of the Parliament and reignite the confidence of the people of South Africa in Parliament as an institution that can represent them to the best of its abilities. Image: Parliament ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane on Tuesday called on MPs to do their work in the name of South Africans when they investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 'All the eyes of the people of the Republic are on this committee, and all the hopes of the people of this country are on us. Wherever there could have been unscrupulous activities, South Africans will want to hear us rise into the occasion speaking on their behalf,' Lekganyane said. He made the statement when he was elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee following his nomination by ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli and seconded by IFP MP Albert Mncwango. EFF MP Julius Malema turned down a nomination by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, saying: 'I am not available.' Lekganyane thanked the MPs for showing confidence when they elected him as the chairperson. He noted that previous surveys showed that South Africans were losing confidence in public institutions, including Parliament. Lekganyane said the last survey by Afrobarometer showed the confidence level of South Africans in Parliament was standing at 27%. 'It is up to us, all of us sitting here, to say those confidence levels are what we represent, or do they represent us as MPs. If we are happy, this is what represents us or if this is what we represent, we will continue to work as if there is nothing that reflects how we do our work, but my feeling is that all of us here, and which I will urge all of you, is that we have been appointed from a position of incompetence,' he said. 'And every day when we do our work, let's find a way to do better so that we can improve from the incompetence that anybody outside looking at us would say 'we elected these men and women and in some way, this is what they have done and we don't think it represents us as South Africans'. 'We have a duty here to raise the flag of the Parliament of the Republic and reignite the confidence of the people of South Africa in Parliament as an institution that can represent them to the best of its abilities,' he said. Lekganyane was hopeful that the MPs from across the political divide would work together on the mandate they have been given until the end of October 'I was very impressed when I arrived here; almost everybody was here. This is the kind of attitude and work ethic that will take us to greater heights. I want to give you 100% for the manner we responded to the call and thank the organisers of this meeting for the work you have done.' Lekganyane is currently the co-chairperson of the Joint Committee on Financial Management of Parliament. He previously served as the MEC for local government and human settlements in Limpopo between 2009 and 2012. When he was elected as ANC provincial secretary, he resigned from the provincial legislature and returned in 2014 to serve as chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Finance. In 2018, he was again elected as the ANC provincial secretary and then elected as an MP in 2024. 'The period between 2022 and 2024, I worked with the Minister of Basic Education, Minister (Angie) Motshekga, as her special advisor. I have four university qualifications, among them there is a law degree and an Honours degree in political science,' said Lekganyane when he introduced himself after his election as committee chairperson.
IOL News
7 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Parliament elects Molapi Lekganyane to lead probe into Mkhwanazi's explosive SAPS allegations
Parliament's ad hoc committee elected ANC MP Molapi Soviet Lekganyane as chairperson to investigate serious corruption allegations against senior SAPS officials and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Image: Parliament of SA The newly established ad hoc committee of Parliament has elected ANC MP Molapi Soviet Lekganyane as its chairperson to lead the investigation into serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The election took place during the committee's inaugural meeting, convened in terms of National Assembly Rule 158, on Tuesday. Lekganyane was nominated by ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli and seconded by IFP's Mangaqa Mcwango. EFF leader Julius Malema was also nominated by MK Party MP David Skhosana and seconded by Sibonelo Nomvalo, but he declined the nomination, stating: "No, thanks for the nomination. I'm not available." Parliament formed the committee two weeks ago following explosive allegations by Mkhwanazi last month. Mkhwanzi claimed that some of SAPS' most senior officials are involved in corruption, and linked Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to dubious individuals. Among its key tasks, the committee will investigate the alleged unlawful disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team by Mchunu, as well as the alleged removal of 121 dockets by Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Accepting the position, Lekganyane expressed his appreciation to committee members for their confidence in him: "Honourable members, I want to take this opportunity and thank you for the confidence that you have shown in me to be the chairperson of this committee, which is a committee of parliament that has been put in place as a result of matters of grave concern." He highlighted the gravity of the committee's mandate, saying: "All the eyes of the people of the republic are on this committee. And all the hopes of the people of this country are on us. Wherever there could have been unscrupulous activities, South Africans would want to hear us rise into the occasion, speaking on their behalf." Lekganyane also addressed public distrust in Parliament, citing recent public opinion research. "If we look at the surveys that have been done previously, South Africans are losing confidence in public institutions, including parliament. I think the last survey that I saw done by Afrobarometer was saying that the confidence of South Africans in parliament is at 27%." He continued: "It's up to us, all of us sitting here, to say those confidence ratings or those confidence levels, is that what we represent, or do they represent us as members of parliament?" Outlining his background, Lekganyane said: "I come from the province of Limpopo, the same province where Honourable Julius Sello Malema comes from. I have previously served as the member of the Executive Council responsible for local government and human settlements in the province of Limpopo between 2009 and 2010, and thereafter I was elected provincial secretary of the ANC." He added: "In 2014, I went back to the legislature where I served as the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Finance. And then in 2018, I resigned again from the legislature to become the provincial secretary of the ANC. In 2024, I was elected to be a member of parliament." Lekganyane also noted his experience as a special advisor to the Minister of Basic Education between 2022 and 2024. "I worked with the Minister of Basic Education, Minister Motshekga, as a special advisor. I have four university qualifications. Amongst them, there is a law degree and an honours degree in political science." Lekganyane further proposed that the secretariat prepare the committee's terms of reference. "What I want to propose is that the secretariat develop terms of reference for the committee and its programme. So the next meeting, the sooner they conclude that, we must get into the next meeting and adopt those terms of reference." "This is the kind of attitude and work ethic that will take us to greater heights, and I want to give you 100% for the manner in which we responded to the call." [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
