Parliament cancels sittings and committees for ‘spin classes’
23 August 2015
The DA notes with concern Parliament’s decision to not only cancel two of this week's three National Assembly (NA) plenaries, but a third of the scheduled portfolio committee meetings as well.
In previous National Assembly Programming Committee (NAPC) meetings, ANC whips claimed that this week's plenary cancellations would allow various portfolio committees the opportunity to catch up on crucial outstanding work, and to compile and complete reports.
However according to the recent committee schedule, a number of meetings to deal with urgent business such as the implementation of the Farlam Commission’s recommendations, briefings by National Treasury, and initiatives to avert looming strikes have now at the very last minute been cancelled in favour of a chairpersons’ Media and Communication workshop.
I will request that this worrying decision be brought before the Parliamentary Oversight Authority, and that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, explain how she thinks that these ‘spin classes’ are more important than the numerous important issues before Parliament's portfolio committees.
This workshop could have taken place over the weekend or during the up-coming recess period and not disturbed Parliament’s schedule and workload.
Despite our objections, the ANC has recently repeatedly abused its majority in committees such as NAPC to stall Parliament's work and delay debates in the NA on crucial topics such as the critical state of our economy and President Zuma's impeachment.
The ANC has not only violated the consultative spirit of the NAPC and put undue pressure on Parliament’s programme, they have illustrated that they do not take its oversight responsibilities seriously.
The DA will continue to challenge these decisions and ones like them in NAPC, and make every effort to ensure that Parliament’s work and the needs of our nation are prioritised.
Statement issued by Mike Waters MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip, August 23 2015
