ANC STOPS TOLL DEBATE

A debate on the DA's motion against the toll roads on Gauteng highways was denied at a meeting at a meeting this morning of the Programming Committee, which is chaired by Speaker Lindiwe Maseko.

This is outrageous. The motion was originally scheduled for today but did not take place as the sitting was cancelled by the Speaker on Friday supposedly because the premier is away and a number of reports are not ready.

It is clear that the ANC does not want this debate to take place as it will embarrass them immensely. They are brutally divided on the issue and are running scared.

The threadbare excuse is that the issue can be debated when the Petitions Committee submits its report on the four anti-toll petitions that have been submitted.

They are abusing a rule that "no matter may be proposed for discussion in the House which is the same as a matter that has been discussed and resolved during the preceding period of 6 months."

This does not apply as debate on a motion and on a committee report are two different things, a distinction that was previously accepted when the DA's toll motion was approved for debate at the cancelled sitting today.

The Speaker has unfortunately bowed to political pressure in this matter. But the people will be heard, if not in the Legislature then in the streets!

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, October 11 2011

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