Obama debate: a missed opportunity by Parliament 

The DA notes the response of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu to our request that he invites President Barack Obama to address a joint sitting of Parliament during his state visit to South Africa later this month. The speaker's reason for not acceding to our request is that Parliament will be in recess and members will be attending to constituency engagements.

His response and line of reasoning are unfortunate. An address by the United States President is sufficient reason to convene a joint sitting, even in the middle of a constituency period. The DA had hoped that the ANC would put political differences aside and recognise this as the unique opportunity that it is.

Furthermore, this address would have been the perfect opportunity to build on the successes of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's recent address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Although President Obama will be a guest of the South African government during his state visit, there is nothing preventing the two presiding officers of Parliament from extending an invitation to him. Joint Rule 7(2) empowers them to do so. Their decision not to do so is disappointing. 

I will be writing to President Zuma to urge him to take this opportunity to request a Joint Sitting of Parliament himself, according to Joint Rule 7(1), to facilitate an address by the US President. 

The DA will continue working towards making Parliament the centre of high-level speech making and relevant debate despite the ANC's petty politicking.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, June 8 2013

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