African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament (MP) Malusi Gigaba “stepped aside” from party duties in the wake of corruption revelations but remains co-chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) – an untenable situation, a co-parliamentarian maintains.
“The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned that Gigaba, who has ‘stepped aside’ from all ANC leadership roles due to serious criminal charges, nevertheless intends to continue leading and participating in parliamentary oversight,” was the reaction of Chris Hattingh who represents the DA on the JSCD and also sits on the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV).
The co-chair position along with Phiroane Phala requires someone with “unquestionable integrity” he said in a statement adding Gigaba’s continued presence in a leadership position “underlines Parliament’s credibility as well as the integrity of South Africa’s defence oversight system”.
“Parliament cannot be held to a lower ethical standard than the ANC. If the charges against Gigaba are serious enough for him to step aside from his party responsibilities, then it is inconceivable that he should continue to occupy one of the most sensitive oversight roles in Parliament, especially in a portfolio where governance failures, procurement irregularities and integrity lapses have had devastating consequences.
“Oversight over the national defence force, the defence industry and national security demands the highest levels of trust and impartiality.
“A committee chair facing criminal charges connected to corruption cannot credibly hold the executive to account, cannot exercise impartial oversight over state entities and cannot represent Parliament with the authority required in defence matters,” the Hattingh statement has it adding his party calls on the JSCD co-chair to immediately step aside from all parliamentary leadership duties, including the JSCD, until the legal process is concluded.
“South Africans deserve a defence oversight system that is credible, independent and unimpeachable. This requires consistent ethical standards, not selective accountability based on party convenience.”
Last month, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) formally added Gigaba as the fifth accused in a corruption case involving former Transnet executives. Authorities are investigating corruption in Transnet’s multi-billion-rand locomotive procurement deal.
The charges relate to Gigaba’s tenure as Minister in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) between November 2010 and May 2014. The matter was postponed to 30 January 2026.
“The State alleges that, during the period that Dr Gigaba was the Minister of DPE, he on various occasions allegedly accepted and received undisclosed amounts of cash from members of the Gupta family which are corrupt in nature, and which he was not entitled to. All the accused were presented with an updated charge sheet,” said IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame.
Gigaba said he would not be commenting or participating in internal ANC matters until the matter was finalised. “When it concludes, I stand ready to resume my duties,” he said.
