DA'S PROPOSED MOTION PREPOSTEROUS

19 August 2014

The African National Congress in Parliament has this afternoon rejected an attempt by the Democratic Alliance to erode the scope and integrity of the Ad Hoc Committee to consider the report of the President to Parliament on the security upgrades at his Nkandla private residence. The DA sought to amend the proposed motion by the ANC Chief Whip regarding the formation of the Ad Hoc Committee by including the report of the Public Protector.

The consequences of acceding to the DA's motion would be the exclusion of all other important documents which would be helpful to the committee's work. The committee would have been forced to confine itself only to two documents mentioned in the resolution, thereby undermining the quality of its work.

Section 138 of the Rules, under which this committee is established, broadens the mandate of the committee to ensure that it conduct its work comprehensively. The rule states that the committee may, subject to the Constitution, legislation, the other provisions of these Rules and resolutions of the Assembly:

a) Summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents;

b) Receive petitions, representations or submissions from interested persons or institutions;

c) Conduct public hearings;

d) Permit oral evidence on petitions, representations, submissions and any other matter before the committee

e) Determine its own procedure

f) Meet at a venue determined by it, which may be a venue beyond the seat of Parliament

g) Meet on any day and at any time, including -

i. on a day which is not a working day; ii. on a day on which the Assembly is not sitting iii. at a time when the Assembly is sitting; or iv. during a recess g. exercise any other powers assigned to it by the Constitution, legislation, the other provisions of these Rules or resolutions of the Assembly

Therefore the DA's attempt to force the inclusion of one document at the expense of all other critical reports relevant to the mandate of the ad committee was irrational, bizarre and waste of the House's time. It was clear that the DA wanted to appear publicly to be opposing, even if opposing nothing, after claiming in the media that the ANC would not support the establishment of the committee.

The ANC remains committed to ensuring Parliament executes its mandate qualitatively and transparently on this matter.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, August 19 2014

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