Johannesburg – Parliament will establish an ad-hoc committee to “consider” the findings by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela relating to the procurement of the IEC’s headquarters in Centurion.

“The establishment of the ad-hoc committee will be tabled in the NA [National Assembly] next week, together with a time frame for it to complete its work… and recommend a course of action,” Parliament said in a statement on Thursday.

“As is the case with other committees of the NA, the ad-hoc committee will comprise proportional representation from political parties represented in the House.”

This meant there would be seven members of the ANC, two of the DA, one of the Cope, one of the IFP, and one from smaller parties represented in the Assembly.

By early next week, parties were expected to provide the names of their chosen members to serve on the committee.

Last month, Madonsela recommended that Parliament consider taking action against Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Pansy Tlakula, for her “grossly irregular” role in the procurement of the Riverside Office Park building for the commission’s head office.

Madonsela found improper conduct and maladministration on Tlakula’s part, and a conflict of interest involving a co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.

The man, Thaba Mufamadi, had a 20% stake in Abland, which was awarded the R320m contract to lease the building.

He is also Parliament’s finance portfolio committee chairperson.

Madonsela found that Tlakula had failed to disclose her business relationship with Mufamadi to the bidding team, which compromised her independence and objectivity.

– SAPA