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Inflammatory and racist motions in legislature

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Dear MyPE

The DA notes with grave concern the two motions raised by the ANC Chief Whip, Mzoleli Mrara in the provincial legislature today (4 February 2015). These motions cause more harm than good with regard to the issue of Xenophobia and reconciliation in our society. For the motions see images below.

I have written to the Speaker, Noxolo Kiviet and the Leader of Government Business, MEC Helen Sauls-August, to ask them to address various concerns that arise from these two ill-conceived motions. For my letter, see below.

It seems scarcely conceivable that the pillars of reconciliation and the concept of South Africa being a rainbow nation, espoused and championed by the late former President Nelson Mandela should be so quickly forgotten or relegated for short term political gain by the party that Nelson Mandela made “famous”.

The ANC should take more care in appointing its cadres of questionable moral and leadership quality in positions of public prominence.

The DA will reserve its right to refer these two motions to the Human Rights Commission, pending a response or action from the Speaker and the Leader of Government Business.

Regards

Athol Trollip

ANC motion De Kock parole
ANC motion De Kock parole
ANC motion foreign nationals
ANC motion foreign nationals

Dear Speaker and MEC

RE: THE ANC CHIEF WHIP

I direct this to both of you to request you to intervene in the matter regarding members moving motions without notice and members moving reckless motions with notice.

Yesterday the house experienced an embarrassing situation where the Chief Whip moved two motions without notice without observing the provisions of the Rules (Rule No 130, 130.1, 130.7) and in disregard to the established convention of this house. The result of the Chief Whip (who should be the custodian of our rules) ignoring these provisions resulted in us opposing at least one of the motions without notice that could or should have been supported had he taken the necessary steps to inform all parties in the house before tabling the motion.

I raise this as these are our Rules and we undermine them at our collective peril and reduce the processes of this institution to the unnecessary consequences of ad-hocrity.

The second issue deals with the two motions, with notice, moved today by the ANC Chief Whip. The first one dealing with the recent instances of xenophobia in our county is seriously problematic. Not only does he make outrageous allegations about foreign business owners and their trading in South African society, he also makes the unbelievable allegation that they “should be disarmed as they possess dangerous illegal weapons.”

These allegations and statements hold the grave potential to further incite xenophobia and jeopardize the lives and wellbeing of more foreign nationals and South African citizens caught in the resultant conflict and “crossfire”. This motion is not only ill conceived, it is misguided and most incendiary. (This motion combined with the recent statements of Minister Zulu is not conducive to promoting peace in our Country)

The second motion dealing with the pardon of political prisoners is also laced with reckless innuendo and personal invective. Not to mention the fact that the motion was very clumsily compiled and asks the NPA to contravene its constitutional mandate. This is compounded by the fact that the recently pardoned political prisoner, Eugene De Kock was actually pardoned by the ANC Minister of justice based on the advice of the Parole board, no one else.

I would have expected much more from a senior ANC politician who is entrusted with the responsibility of being the Chief Whip of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature. I would be obliged if these matters could be canvassed with the Chief Whip and the entire ANC caucus and that the Speaker uses her authority as per Rule no 131.3 to address the issues of concern in this regard.

Sincerely

Athol Trollip, MPL
DA Leader – Eastern Cape

Editor: Now isn’t that a nice descriptive term – “Notice of Motion”? And so much nicer to say; “Now the motion is going to hit the fan!”

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Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.