Parliament must vote again on Protection of State Information Bill

I have written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu to request that the Protection of State Information Bill be put to a vote again in the National Assembly.

According to the ANC Chief Whip, Mathole Motshekga, the voting system contained technical faults, which apparently resulted in his vote being recorded incorrectly. If this is indeed the case, then there is the potential that other votes could have been recorded incorrectly.

On a bill as controversial as this, and which has a high likelihood of ending up in the Constitutional Court, it is essential that Parliament is not embarrassed for its inability to do its job correctly.

I am confident that Dr Motshekga, who was quick to point out that his vote against this unconstitutional piece of legislation was due to a ‘glitch' will support this request and for an opportunity to vote again.

For his vote to be changed behind closed doors will create unnecessary suspicion to the parliamentary process which must at all times be open.

The Speaker must ensure that the integrity of Parliament is maintained. A re-vote is the only transparent way to do this.

Statement issued by Watty Watson MP, Democratic Alliance Chief Whip, April 28 2013

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