Insults rain on Molefe

“Where is that corrupt bastard?”

That was how Brian Molefe was received by opposition MPs as he made his first appearance in the National Assembly as a new MP yesterday.

The embattled Molefe received a hostile welcome from opposition benches as he took his seat as a backbencher.

He smiled as Speaker Baleka Mbete announced his swearing in.

Mbete said the vacancy in the National Assembly had been created by the resignation of Abram Mudau.

Molefe filled the vacancy with effect from February 14.

The opposition MPs booed as Mbete made the announcement.

“Where is that corrupt bastard?” the EFF’s Moses Mbatha asked before being called to order by an ANC MP.

Mbete asked Mbatha to withdraw, but he refused.

“I will recognise your voice in the hansard recording,” Mbete promised.

EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu asked Mbete since when does the parliament communication department make announcements on behalf of political parties.

He was referring to an official press release by parliament to announce Molefe’s appointment.

“We will not be abused by the Guptas,” Shivambu said.

COPE MP Deidre Carter also made jibes at Molefe.

“True north changed direction in this house because my immorality compass is [pointing] directly to the honourable Molefe now,” Carter said.

A few hours earlier Molefe had received a warm welcome from the ANC caucus at its weekly meeting, where he was introduced for the first time.

DA finance spokesman David Maynier said the fact that the “disgraced” former Eskom group chief executive was sworn in as an MP was a “major escalation in the civil war within the ruling party and the battle for control of national Treasury, being driven by President Jacob Zuma”.

Molefe is said to be headed to the finance portfolio committee, for the meantime, following the redeployment of Makhosi Khoza.