MEETING BETWEEN DEPUTY PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES
18 November 2014
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip notes the set of agreements reached by a meeting between Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Leader of Government Business (LOGB), and leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament. This crucial meeting follows unfortunate and shameful developments in the National Assembly, which have undermined the integrity of Parliament and its public stature.
The nation is frowning at all of us. As parties, we must take responsibility for the complicity, either by commission or omission, in the deteriorating situation in Parliament. Preserving the decorum of the house and the honour of the institution is a responsibility all of us ought to shoulder. The prevailing climate of insults, personal attacks, disregards for the rules, challenging presiding officer's authority and general disorderliness is not conducive to civil multiparty debates. Such climate contributes nothing to the enhancement of Parliament's constitutional function of holding the executive to account without fear or favour.
Amongst the agreements arrived at by parties is the establishment of a committee consisting of the LOGB and leaders of parties represented in Parliament to lead a political process to address the current situation in Parliament. The committee will be chaired by the LOGB, who will be deputised by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Opposition. In this regard, the current processes with respect to the earlier disruptions in the House will be held in abeyance until the committee has completed its work.
We call upon all parliamentary political parties to actively participate in this committee process to ensure that all areas of disagreements are frankly discussed with a view to arriving at a mutually agreed solution that will restore the integrity of the institution. We owe it to the people of South Africa to ensure this Parliament is functional, credible and efficient in discharging its constitutional fucntions.
Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, November 18 2014
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