WELCOMING AND PURPOSE BY THE DEPUTY SPEAKER, HON. MMABATHO TEMBE ETHICS, PRIVILEGES AND CONTEMPT COMMITTEE WORKSHOP
11 June 2025
Good morning, Honourable Members, and colleagues.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to today’s meeting of the Ethics, Privileges and Contempt Committee. Thank you all for availing yourselves to continue the important work of upholding integrity, accountability, and transparency in the Legislature.
As public representatives, the ethical standards we uphold set the tone not only for the functioning of this Legislature, but also for how we are perceived by the people we serve. The mandate of this Committee is central to ensuring that our work is guided by clear principles, fairness, and a genuine commitment to ethical conduct.
Today’s meeting is an opportunity for us to focus on our broader priorities around ethical governance and capacity-building. In an evolving political and social environment, the challenges we face are complex. For that reason, we must constantly assess how well-prepared we are, not just to respond to ethical misconduct but to prevent them through education, support, and proactive leadership.
Our key priorities involve us reviewing at how to strengthen ethical governance across the Legislature. This includes identifying areas of risk, ensuring consistent application of the Code of Conduct, and reviewing how we can better support Members in dealing with ethical dilemmas before they escalate.
Secondly, we need to focus on ethics training and knowledge-building. Our work must be supported by clear guidance, practical tools, and continuous learning. Ethics cannot be something we revisit only in times of crisis; it must be an integral part of how we lead, engage, and make decisions.
Thirdly, we must reflect on the role of this Committee in shaping a culture of integrity and principled leadership. That includes setting an example as Members of this committee, and ensuring our processes are fair, transparent, and aligned with the highest standards of accountability.
Finally, this is also a time to set our agenda going forward, to align on key focus areas for the months ahead, and to identify opportunities for outreach, collaboration, and stronger internal support systems that reinforce ethical behaviour at all levels.
Honourable Members, the work of this Committee is more than compliance, it is about protecting the public trust and affirming the values upon which our democracy is built.
I encourage open engagement, critical reflection, and shared ownership of the outcomes we seek to achieve. With your commitment, I am confident that we can continue to advance a strong, principled, and ethical institution.
Thank you once again for your participation, Honourable Members, I trust that today’s session will be informative, practical, and empowering. Let us approach this workshop with openness and a shared sense of purpose.
Thank you once again for your presence and active participation. I now invite our facilitator to take us into the session.
