DA WELCOMES SPEAKER'S RULING ON BLOOM BARA BAN
The DA welcomes the Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature Lindiwe Maseko's ruling today that Jack Bloom should be free to conduct oversight visits at Gauteng Hospitals whenever he deems necessary. Maseko upheld a 2008 ruling made by the Privileges and Ethics Committee.
Maseko instructed Health MEC Ntombi Mekwe and Chairperson of the Health portfolio committee Molebatsi Bopape, to address this matter with the hospital's officials and release a media statement on the outcome.
This ruling was in response to my letter sent last week (see letter below)which objected to an instruction not to allow Jack Bloom access to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, and to his photograph being posted on a guardhouse at the hospital.
Members of the Legislature not only have the right but also an obligation to ensure the public are being served in a proper manner and that their hard earned tax money is well spent. The DA therefore welcomes the Speaker's ruling on the rights of public representatives to conduct oversight visits.
Members of the public elect public representatives to serve them and it cannot be the right of any state institution's management to undo the democratic process by banning a duly elected member from performing his duty.
Text of letter:
26 October 2011
Ms. Lindiwe Maseko
The Speaker
Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Delivery: By hand
Dear Madam Speaker,
As you are no doubt aware, Member Jack Bloom has been barred from conducting oversight at Baragwanath Chris Hani Hospital. This has been widely reported in the media which has evidence of his photograph being posted at security points around the institution as well as an instruction not to allow him access.
Hospital Spokesperson Nkosiyethu Mazibuko has also been quoted as saying that Member Bloom is not barred but that he must submit a formal request to visit the institution.
In terms of clause 18 (1) of the Standing Rules of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, you as Speaker safeguard the independence of the Legislature and maintain its authority. It is with this in mind that I write to you for your assistance and protection.
I remind you of the report of the Privileges and Ethics Committee adopted by the House (ATC 102 - 2008) which detailed an enquiry into Member Bloom on allegations of unethical behaviour made by the Head of the Department of Health. This enquiry found that there was nothing unethical about Member Bloom's conduct and recommended inter alia:
"In sensitive areas, such as the operating areas of a hospital prior permission should be imperative. Otherwise a person such as Member JB Bloom, who is on the Health Committee, should in the public interest, be regarded as free to visit public institutions of Health, unannounced if he/she considers it necessary to do so".
I hereby formally request your assistance in ensuring that:
1. The recommendation of the House is upheld
2. Member Bloom's effective barring from Baragwanath Chris Hani hospital is immediately lifted
3. All Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature are given unhindered access to "non-sensitive" areas of state institutions in Gauteng
4. The Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature protects the rights of all Members to carry out their duty to conduct oversight of state institutions in a legal and orderly manner
Regards
Glenda Steyn, MPL
DA Chief Whip
Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Statement issued by Glenda Steyn, MPL, DA Chief Whip, Gauteng Provincial Legislature, November 1 2011
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