PSIRA Bill: ANC undermining parliamentary processes in NCOP
President Jacob Zuma's ANC is hell-bent on bulldozing through job-killing Bills in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) ahead of the elections.
In doing so, they are undermining the very clearly set out processes that exist to ensure proper consideration of draft legislation in the NCOP House of Parliament.
This has been made clear by the unacceptable steps that have been taken by the ANC to ensure the rapid passing of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) Amendment Bill this week.
Despite the Bill only being discussed in the NCOP's Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development yesterday, it has already been placed on the order paper for consideration this afternoon.
To do this, the ANC has abused its majority by tabling a motion to waive the important three day rule, which requires three days to pass between a Bill's finalisation in committee and its consideration by the council in order for all members of the NCOP to review the committee's work and before voting on it.
The DA will today object to the motion in the House and vote against it. We will also demand an urgent meeting with the Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Mahlangu and the ANC Chief Whip in the NCOP, Ms Ntwanambi, to stress the importance of following due process in considering all legislation before us.
The ANC's blatant disrespect for the parliamentary process to date is nothing short of scandalous. Prior to voting, Bills must be thoroughly discussed and considered in both Houses. Proper consultation with all role-players, which has been sorely lacking to date, is also essential.
Indeed, the ANC is determined to forge ahead with this Bill despite the DA's unearthing of the fact that key letters by several embassies were not provided to members of the National Assembly's portfolio committee on police.
The PSIRA Bill is a disaster of national and international proportions. It will deter foreign investment and will therefore result in job losses in an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people. In doing so, it will also place a greater burden on the South African Police Service (SAPS), which will ultimately hit the poorest communities the hardest.
Zuma's ANC has again been shown up as a party that is not serious about either creating jobs or fighting crime.
South Africans have a chance to send a message to President Zuma on the 7th of May that this will not be tolerated.
Statement issued by Elza van Lingen MP, DA Leader in the National Council of Provinces, March 5 2014
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
