Speaker agrees to snap debate on Vuwani Crisis

12 May 2016

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete, has agreed to the DA’s request to have a snap debate in Parliament on the crisis in Vuwani in Limpopo due to ongoing violence in the area that have emanated from protracted service delivery protests in the area. The proposed debate is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 May 2016. 

The DA submitted a request for a debate of urgent public importance to the Speaker on Monday. In terms of National Assembly (NA) Rule 104, this would allow for the scheduling of an urgent debate so that the House can diligently consider what can only be described as a devastating crisis in our country today. 

Parliament, as the people’s elected representatives, can now show that they have the people’s best interests at heart and engage with this crisis, so that we can shine a light on how we reached this point, and what will be done to help the community recover.

To date, more than 24 schools and other important public buildings have been destroyed. The DA has condemned these acts of violence in the strongest terms possible. It not only robs opportunities from thousands of young people in the region, but also will have a devastating impact on basic service delivery in the area.

But the crisis didn’t just unfold overnight. Parliament needs to inquire as to how we got to this boiling point, where many people have resorted to protest in order to be heard.  

Indeed, this debate would provide an opportunity to give clarity on the disputed municipal demarcations process, the continued dishonesty with the local community, the failure of service delivery in these municipalities, the plan to help rebuild schools and the condemnable failure by the SAPS and Crime Intelligence to respond swiftly to protect important infrastructure in the town.

We commend the Speaker for agreeing to this important debate. Parliament has a responsibility to ensure that government is made to be honest with the people, and that every step is taken to resolve the crisis. 

Issued by Kevin Mileham, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, 12 May 2016