05 June 2006
| Date: | Thursday, 7 September 2006 |
| From: | James Ngculu MP (via Nontando Lwana) |
| To: | Mr. Johan Beaurain |
| cc: | Mr. Graham Albertyn Mr. P. Lebeko |
Re: Your request to ask questions to the Minister of Education
I am in receipt of your letter addressed to some [of] my colleagues in Parliament, complaining about my lack of responding to your request on the above subject.
I would like to first put on record that I do concede to the fact that you approached me (several times), telephonically on the matter as well as by correspondence. I, however, never made an undertaking that I would ask such a question but I said to you I would consider your request.
Upon reflection, given my role as an MP, there are certain ethical standards that I should uphold. Among them is the fact that it would be wrong of me to allow an outsider to sponsor a question to an MP. In this regard, I could not carry your request as it would be violating the ethical standard and setting a precedent that members of the public can then sponsor questions to MPs and this would lead to corruption and unbecoming behaviour. Hence I did not raise or agree to your request.
If it was out of a particular process, either through discussion or other interaction and I felt that I should take up your matter, or we collectively agreed on how we take up your matter, I would readily have considered your request.
I therefore request you that in your quest to pursue your interest you should not involve my name in any way. You should also not misrepresent our discussion (telephonically), I stress this because I have never met with you personally. If you feel others can help you, kindly pursue that, but again I humbly request that you do not involve my name in any such interactions.
Thanking you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
James Ngculu
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