Disaster Management Act: FF Plus wants to restrict any future abuse of power by government by means of private member’s bill
22 October 2020
The national Covid-19 lockdown has highlighted significant flaws in the current Disaster Management Act, in particular the unrestricted power that it confers on the government, the abuse of power that stems from it and the lack of parliamentary accountability and oversight.
The FF Plus is of the opinion that any legislation in a constitutional democracy that has such a drastic impact on the lives and human rights of citizens, as was the case recently under the Disaster Management Act, must be subject to legal accountability and oversight.
Thus, the leader of the FF Plus, Dr Pieter Groenewald, has tabled a private member's bill to ensure parliamentary oversight and accountability concerning decisions made in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
The bill will be published in the Government Gazette on Friday (23 October 2020). (The full bill is attached herewith.)