PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended deputy minister of Small Business Development Dipuo Peters.
Peters has been suspended from the 28 February to 28 March 2024.
This follows the findings of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members, which found that she had breached the Code of Ethical Conduct in her former portfolio as transport minister.
The suspension was imposed by the committee in October 2023.
Presidency spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the decision follows a sanction adopted by the National Assembly.
“Consequently, Ms Peters was sanctioned and suspended for one term. The suspension, which will be without pay, became effective on 28 February 2024 and will end on 28 March 2024,” he said.
The sanction against Peters follows a complaint by #UniteBehind leader and activist Zackie Achmat.
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Achmat made several allegations against Peters, including that she was neglectful in her previous portfolio as minister of transport by failing to appoint a Group CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
The complaint also alleged that she dismissed the Molefe Board, seemingly because it had uncovered R14 billion in irregular expenditure and instituted investigations into corruption at Prasa.
It was also alleged that she used Prasa buses for ANC events during 2014 and 2015 without ensuring payment from the ANC, among others.
Peters approached the high court to prevent the suspension by making an urgent application.
The court found no valid justification for the application to be heard urgently, as she was aware of the committee’s conclusions and the penalties it proposed on 26 October 2023, which she acknowledged receiving.
Her application was dismissed with costs.
