Speech by Mike Waters MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip during the debate on the consideration of the report of the Powers and Privileges Committee, National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town, November 27 2014
The ANC has used and abused Parliament
Honourable Speaker,
Today is a sad day for democracy in South Africa. The ANC has used and abused Parliament. It no longer plays by the rules, and no longer defends democratic values.
Today we are expected to rubberstamp the pathetic investigation by the Powers and Privileges Committee.
Let's face it honourable members, this committee's so-called "investigation" was little more than a kangaroo court to do President Zuma and Baleka Mbete's bidding. My colleague Dr Lotriet, who was one of voices of reason on that committee, has laid out the case clearly.
The process followed in that committee was laughable. The leader of the accused party's testimony was ignored, there were no legal grounds for the investigation, the problem at the centre of what happened on the 21st of August - Speaker Mbete herself - was not summoned to testify and the views of opposition were consistently ignored.
Whether the EFF's actions were right or wrong on the 21st is not the question here. The question is whether the report before us carries any legitimacy. We say it clearly, and with one voice Madam Speaker, the answer is NO! Madam Speaker, your kangaroo court has no legitimacy; and no one with any respect for Parliament or the rule of law would support this ridiculous report.
But let's look at the bigger picture. For months now, the ANC has done everything it possibly could have, to undermine democracy in Parliament and protect President Zuma.
When we had to look into the Nkandla matter, it used its majority on the ad hoc committee to shield Zuma from any responsibility. We were lead to believe by the ANC that a cattle kraal, a fire pool, a chicken run and an amphitheatre just sprang up at the President's house without the President taking notice.
Then when it came to question time in the House, when the opposition wanted to know when President Zuma will repay the money, the Speaker refused to step in to get the President to provide an answer.
And now with this ridiculous investigation, we are supposed to believe that a majority-ANC committee, after refusing to call the Speaker to testify and refusing to accept Mr Malema's testimony, has come up with a fair and unbiased account of what happened on 21 August.
And worst of all, we have seen how the ANC has used every trick in the book to protect President Zuma from answering questions in the House today, or any other day this term; shamelessly breaking Parliament's rules.
But Madam Speaker, the more the ANC undermines democracy in Parliament, the more it damages itself. (TURN TO ANC) This side of the House is losing sight of what it is to be in a democracy.
President Zuma said it best yesterday, when he said that the ANC is in trouble.
You can worm your way around the rules of Parliament for as long as you want to madam Speaker, but at the end of the day the people will punish you and your party for what you are doing in this House.
I urge anyone here who respects democracy and the rule of law to vote against this report.
I thank you.
Issued by the DA, November 27 2014
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