THE YEAR REVIEWED
We can say with some assurance that 2012 was indeed the year when COPE came of age as a loyal opposition party in the best tradition of democratic practice.
1. COPE was very vigorous in the defence of the Constitution as may have been seen in the following:
a. The Brett Murray incident: Section 16(1)(c) Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes - freedom of artistic creativity, and ...
b. Section 165(4) Organs of state, through legislative and other measures, must assist and protect the courts to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness of the courts.
c. Attack on the Constitution by Ministers and top ANC Executive members
d. Section 199(1) The security services of the Republic consist of a single defence force, a single police service and ...
e. Section 57(1)(b) The National Assembly may make rules and orders concerning its business, with due regard to representative and participatory democracy, accountability, transparency and public involvement
f. Section 102()2) The National Assembly, by a vote supported by a majority of its members, passes a motion of no confidence in the President, ...
g. Refusal to hand over spy tapes - our call for impeachment of the President
2. Ensuring Accountability
a. Questions:
i. Written questions for 1st, 2nd and 3rd term: 446 (NA)
ii. Forty four or 10% of the questions asked by COPE were asked by Mr Lekota.
iii. Oral questions for 1st, 2nd and 3rd term: 72 (NA)
iv. Written & Oral questions for February to November 2012: 232 (NCOP)
b. Statements & Motions
c. Robust debates in the House
d. Minister of Energy and Minister of Water Affairs made to withdraw untruthful statements against Mr Lekota regarding his use of the military while he was Minister of Defence.
e. Requesting Debate on Matters of Public Importance
i. See letter to Speaker: 7 May 2012 : Rule 103 permits the Speaker of the National Assembly to be approached to allow discussion on a matter of "sufficient immediate public importance to take precedence over other programmed business in certain circumstances". Our request for a debate on: Auditor General "rings alarm at SA's ‘dire' situation" was turned down.
ii.
3. Legal Action
a. No confidence motion. High Court
b. Criticising the President for not honouring his oath of office. Constitution makes all of us equal. No one is more equal than another. High Court
c. Dalai Lama - Constitutional Court
4. Communication with the President:
25 July 2012: Section 174(4): The other judges of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the President, as head of the national executive, after consulting the Chief Justice and the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly... this requires an opportunity for discussion and deliberation -
20 November 2012: Urgent Request for Further Information on Nkandla
5. Multi Party Forum
a. Protection of State Information Bill - Public Meetings in: Khayelitsha, Uitenhage, & Pinetown
b. Economics Indaba
c. Marikana
d. No confidence motion
6. Fiscal & Economic Matters
a. Tenders & Procurements : Written Question 2021: To a question I posed to the Minister of Public Works, regarding leases, I got the following reply: of the 3036 leases entered into by the Department between 2008-11, 546 leases went through the bidding processes while 2490 leases (80%) were executed outside the bidding processes. The minister accepts that there "could have been an abuse of the negotiated process or strategy".
b. Current Expenditure: Written Question 3045: To a question I Put to the Minister of Finance he replied on 2.11.2012: Current expenditure (salaries, wages, purchases, rents and interest payments) has been rising faster than CPI inflation. Since 2008/9, real current expenditure has been rising by an average of 6.0% per year. This is because of above inflation cost of living adjustments, a larger public sector workforce, the introduction of the Occupational Specific Dispensation as well as increases in health and education related goods and services".
A matter of great concern is that by next year the total gross loan debt will have risen to R1 572.1 trillion and the state debt cost in 2013 will be R98.6 billion. Nearly 9% of state expenditure is being consumed in the servicing of debt. This is a matter which we will very vigorously pursue in the next year. We don't want to fall over our own fiscal cliff.
Mosiuoa Lekota
Statement issued by COPE, December 5 2012
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