DA blocks problematic DORA Bill

12 November 2015

In an embarrassing sitting for the ruling party this evening, the DA ensured that the African National Congress (ANC) was unable to pass another of hurried and problematic pieces of legislation in the National Assembly.

Despite the presence of both the ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, and the Leader of Government Business, Cyril Ramaphosa, their caucus failed to muster the numbers needed to overrule the opposition and pass their Division of Revenue Amendment (DORA) Bill.

Section 214 of the Constitution requires that the annual Division of Revenue be enacted only after taking into account national interest, provision for debt, the needs of national government and emergencies. Further, allocate resources to provide basic services and meet development needs, improve fiscal capacity, reduce economic disparities and the promote stability and predictability.

The DORA Bill proposed by the ANC failed to meet these criteria and adequately address the numerous crises currently facing South Africa. The DA had opposed the ANC’s Bill during committee deliberations and our walk-out ensured that there were not enough Members of Parliament present during this evening’s sitting to allow the Bill to pass.

Despite funding shortfalls in higher education and service delivery provision, the DORA Bill assigns millions of rands to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation as well as State-Owned Entities such as Denel Dynamics, South African National Road Agency.

This Bill clearly illustrates the ANC’s skewed priorities, and its failure to pass, the ANC Chief Whip’s part-time presence and management of his caucus.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip, 12 November 2015