AG has no mandate to recommend constitution review - Keetshabe
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday September 26, 2018 12:31
When appearing before the committee yesterday Keetshabe said if there was a need for a constitution review, the lobby would have to come from the public not his office.
He explained that his mandate was only to advise the Parliament on legal matters and defend the constitution.
“We are only mandated to advise Parliament and defend the constitution, only the people are the ones who can advocate for a constitution review,” he said.
On conflict of interest by the AG sitting in Parliament and also other arms of legislation, Keetshabe said there was no such as his was to look at what the lawyer says and advise accordingly.
He explained that it was not possible for his office to advise wrongly knowing what the consequences could be.
Keetshabe was responding to a question posed by committee member, Dithapelo Keorapetse, as he wanted to know if the AG had ever recommended a constitution review to Parliament.
Keorapetse said there had been evidence that there was a need for a review of the constitution so as it is in line with the democratic shift.
Committee member, Samson Moyo Guma had asked the AG if there was no conflict of interest in the matter.
He had questioned why the AG was advising Parliament on matters they are part of as they often sit in Parliament.