Parliament,Saturday, 12 April 2025 –The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition notes reports by the SABC news on 7 and 8 April 2025 that the committee was conducting an oversight visit to the South African Bureau of Standards’ (SABS) headquarters.
The committee wishes to inform the public that it had not conducted such an oversight visit to the SABS. However, this was an initiative by one of its members, Mr Toby Chance.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mzwandile Masina, said: “While Parliament’s oversight model allows oversight visits by individual members of committees as one of the tools to conduct oversight, that should not interfere with the operations of the departments or public institutions that they seek to oversee as part of their constituency work.”
Mr Masina continued: “Such oversight visits by individual members should not be misconstrued as the operations or views of the committee, which is a multi-party committee.”
Further, Mr Masina reemphasised that the committee acknowledges the importance of the SABS to the South African economy, given its role in setting standards and assuring the quality of goods, services and processes. He also acknowledged the allegations of improper conduct and governance instability raised in the media statement by Mr Chance are linked to the allegations that the committee had been briefed on earlier this year.
On 28 January2025, the committee had engaged Mr Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, as well as the SABS, on these matters. Mr Masina said: “The Minister had indicated that he viewed the allegations seriously and that an investigation would be initiated, which has subsequently commenced. The committee is awaiting the outcomes of this investigation and had urged the Ministry to urgently stabilise the board and finalise the appointment of top management positions in the meantime.”
Mr Masina urged the press to ensure that information is accurate and welcomes them to approach the committee, as needed.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION, MR MZWANDILE MASINA.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: MrSibongile Maputi
Cell: 081 0526060
Email:smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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