New National Party (NNP) MP Francois Beukman is set to become the new chairman of Parliament's key standing committee on public accounts.

This is the first post the African National Congress (ANC) has given to the NNP in line with their co-operation deal signed last year after the NNP's withdrawal from the Democratic Alliance (DA).

ANC national chairman Mosiuoa Lekota said earlier this year the NNP would be offered the post vacated by the Inkatha Freedom Party's Gavin Woods, who quit as chairman citing political interference in the committee's work.

The committee's chairmanship has traditionally been given to the opposition.

Beukman is expected to be nominated by the ANC at a committee meeting today, where auditor-general Shauket Fakie is to table his second general report for 2000-2001.

Beukman, 36, is a lawyer and is the NNP's media director. He is regarded as one of the party's new-generation MPs and has previously served as a member of the committee.

Reports of Beukman's new post put paid to any prospect of the committee acting as a check and balance on government, DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said yesterday.

"Beukman is a pleasant young man and a junior MP. His chief talent is loyalty to (NNP leader) Marthinus van Schalkwyk and to act as a spin doctor for the NNP."

Beukman had served on the committee only for a very short while in a junior capacity, and had never demonstrated financial expertise, which was vital for the position, Gibson said.

"It is quite shocking that the committee, which is there to hold the cabinet accountable, has been given as a reward to the NNP in return for supporting the ANC."

Meanwhile, the new parliamentary quarter will see the filling of several other committee chair vacancies. ANC MP Dr Siyabonga Cwele was yesterday sworn in by Cape Judge President John Hlophe as chairman of Parliament's standing committee on intelligence.

The health committee chairmanship is also vacant, following ANC MP Dr Abe Nkomo's appointment as a diplomat. The ethics committee chair will be filled after Sister Bernard Ncube was named as executive mayor of the West Rand District Council.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Buisness Day.