JUANITA TERBLANCHE
DA WHIP IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

The decision by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Mninwa Mahlangu to have me ejected from the House this afternoon for exclaiming “Ag sies tog!” was not only petty in the extreme, but also ill-advised and showed a severe lack of judgement for one who is the leader of the House. (more…)

DENE SMUTS, MP
DA SPOKESPERSON FOR COMMUNICATIONS

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has removed one of two constitutionally-offensive provisions from the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. It has removed the redefinition of the appointing authority which would have forced the President of the Republic to appoint the SABC Board in consultation with the Speaker. That provision offended against the doctrine of the separation of powers. It is now gone. That is a vindication of the position taken here by all opposition parties, and we obviously support this NCOP amendment. (more…)

ARMISTON (Watty) WATSON, MP
DA LEADER IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

In a preamble to a Motion in the National Council of Provinces this Morning, I stated the following, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA):

1. That the House (NCOP) notes with concern, the recent reports that Party Leaders of the ANC are concerned that too much television exposure is given to President Kgalema Motlanthe, to the detriment of ANC President Jacob Zuma, and that pressure is being exerted on SABC bosses to reverse the situation. (more…)

STATEMENT BY JAMES SELFE MP
DA SPOKESPERSON FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

Yesterday the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services was due to have a meeting in which we were to be briefed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on progress in the investigation into the award of a catering contract by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). This meeting was cancelled on the instructions of the ANC Chief Whip, for reasons which are not clear.

Had the meeting taken place, I would have passed on to the SIU the information we are releasing today. These documents raise serious questions about the way in which this contract was awarded, which the Democratic Alliance (DA) hopes the SIU will be able to answer when it finalises its investigation. (more…)

STATEMENT BY MIKE WATERS MP
DA SPOKESPERSON ON HEALTH

On 23 October the KwaZulu-Natal health department issued a statement declaring that, despite a budget crisis it was facing, there was “no moratorium on [the filling of] clinical posts” at hospitals in the province. This assurance is directly contradicted by calls we have received from several doctors and student doctors saying that such a moratorium does in fact exist. (more…)

SPEECH BY MARTIN STEPHENS MP
DA DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
National Assembly, Cape Town

Madam Speaker - The Committee on Public Accounts called four Water Boards to appear before it to deal with the findings of the Auditor General regarding ther financials. It is deeply disturbing to note the complete inability of these boards to function to acceptable standards. (more…)

SPEECH BY KOBUS MARAIS, MP
DA SPOKESPERSON ON FINANCE
National Assembly, Cape Town

Chairperson, as we know the Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement, which the Minister of Finance tabled on 21 October 2008, is not a mid-year budget as commonly known, but importantly it provides the framework on which the 2009 Budget is to be constructed. It is also the obligation of National Treasury, in terms of section 28 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), to table annually a multi-year budget projection for revenue, expenditure and key economic projections. In this process it gives an indication of government’s assessment of:

- The state of the economy
- The fiscal framework
- The budget priorities, and
- The division of revenue between national, provincial and local governments (more…)

SPEECH BY KOBUS MARAIS MP
DA SPOKEPERSON FOR FINANCE
National Assembly, Cape Town

Chairperson, by now everyone is aware of the effects of the global economic turmoil on our economy. The statement by the Minister and this debate confirms the seriousness of its current and potential effects on South Africa.

It is expected that this crisis will pass, given the nature of economic cycles.  The role of government must be to attempt to smooth this cycle.  Fiscal discipline and a prudent policy approach are essential in weathering the storms now at our front door. (more…)

SPEECH BY DESIREE VAN DER WALT MP
DA SPOKESPERSON ON ARTS AND CULTURE
National Assembly, Cape Town

“[A] larger-than-life lioness of the struggle and a songstress in whom Africa had found her voice”

This is how publicist Mark Le Chat so aptly paid tribute to Miriam Makeba in his forward to her 2004 album, Reflections, as he recounted his presence in the “hot and fevered” atmosphere where her arrival was awaited in a downtown club in Johannesburg in December of 1990. (more…)

MEMBER’S STATEMENT BY JANET SEMPLE, MP
DA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE EKURHULENI CONSTITUENCY
National Assembly, Cape Town

The shoddy workmanship of the toilets being built in Mogoba settlement near Putfontein in Ekurhuleni is an absolute disgrace. The summer rains in Gauteng have barely begun; but by the registration weekend, about 38 toilets had actually fallen down, most are so badly built and the foundations so shallow that there are cracks all around the base. (more…)