I find it disingenuous of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to criticise the ANC for failing to fulfil its electoral promises when she is chronically absent from parliament (“Madiba betrayed”, July 19). Madikizela-Mandela is a member of parliament, earning about R800000 a year. It is amazing that she continues to draw this huge salary despite her absenteeism and failure to attend to her parliamentary duties.
Asked by the media in 2011 about her almost permanent absenteeism from parliament, Madikizela-Mandela was quick to retort that she was too busy with other matters to report to parliament as required.
According to National Assembly rules, MPs must seek authorisation from the chief whip if they are to be absent for longer than 15 days.
Madikizela-Mandela was at one stage absent for longer than 76 days and received only a R300 fine.
She still collected her full pay without any shame.
Talking about people destroying Nelson Mandela’s legacy, Madikizela-Mandela has forgotten she was fired from office by Mandela because of ill-discipline and disrespect for the president and the masses who voted her into parliament.
On matters of discipline Madikizela-Mandela is shockingly wanting.
She criticises the ANC, but fails to mention that her chronic absenteeism was responsible for the failure of the house to vote on a bill at the heart of service delivery, the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill, because it did not have a quorum.
The work of the National Assembly and its committees is disrupted by truant MPs like Madikizela-Mandela, yet she has the nerve to point fingers at others.
Her dubious relationship with Julius Malema confirms Madikizela-Mandela’s history with the youth.