Point of Order to disrupt

Democracy was the biggest loser when the ANC in the Western Cape Legislature disappointed me on Friday 20^th February 2015. Their disruptions took place less than 24 hours after the head of state appealed to all to be calm, respect our democratic institutions and to play the ball not the man.

The ANC clearly copied the EFF when starting the sitting with a Point of Order, they also copied the EFF by trying to make it as difficult as possible for the Speaker and for her to call in security to remove members. It is clear parties entered the chamber with a plan.

While both parties made some blunders no one really scored, but it is the ANC who looks like the biggest loser.

Whether intentional or not, EFF tactics were copied disrupting a sitting of a democratic institution. This happened at Parliament and now also at two provincial legislatures. While these actions show after two decades our democracy is maturing, it also holds a threat as soon municipal councillors will copy these disruptive tactics and try it during their meetings – that would be a sad day for democracy as municipal councils meet once a quarter and service delivery will suffer from this.

ANC Chief Whip, Pierre Uys, was within his right to raise a point of order. His point of order was on an incident that occurred on December 4^th, 2014 – where racist remarks were made by the Premier of the Western Cape and the Leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature, the Zille withdrew her remark, but Fransman refused. Speaker Sharna Fernandez responded to Uys' Point of Order – which in all honesty, even though Uys put it in context, felt like a statement.

Having said the above, I agree and feel EFF MPL, Nazier Paulsen, gave a good summary in his response to the events: The Opposition's concerns are valid and nothing prevents the Opposition from still referring the matter for judiciary inquiry if the outcome is still unsatisfactory.

Why the ANC disappointed me:

One should first admit that the ANC MPL’s did not disrupt Premier Helen Zille’s State of the Province Address. The ANC in the legislature did disrupt the house, that prevented the Premier from delivering her State of the Province Address and that is why I’m disappointed as it is the same party who condemned the Economic Freedom Fighters from disrupting a Joint Sitting of Parliament when President Jacob Zuma, had to deliver the State of the Nation Address.

While everyone in the province might not have voted for the DA, all parties accepted the outcome and whether we like it or not Helen Zille was re-elected to lead the province.

When the ANC announced their A-team in June 2014 it said it wants to hold the DA accountable and see real improvements. They failed on both objectives…

I would have loved to hear the premier address the province in outlining what her government is planning to better the lives of all.

The ANC MPLs should have allowed the Premier to deliver her address, after the second adjournment and then hold the DA government accountable on what was not achieved and also debate if the plans will bring real improvement.

The Leader of the Opposition in the House, disappointed me when he raised a point of order about a live feed and what was more disappointing is that fellow MPLs supported his point by trying the correct the Speaker that a live feed has been cut.

Anyone who follows SOPA would know (1) there is no live feed to the TV and (2) the feed that goes from the House to the Parliamentary channel goes via the National Legislature and is not operated by the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Marius Fransman and Pierre Uys should have checked the facts before making themselves look bad.

A problem can only be addressed if you admit there is one, same with racism – as it is still alive, not only in the Western Cape but South Africa. Allow me my 5 seconds:

It is ironic that the ANC – the same party who says the colourd vote is important – and have a march against racism in the province (a day before the State of the Province Address), decided to ‘attack’ a colourd lady - who has one of the most senior positions in the province - and say she is not capable of being the presiding officer. And to make matters worse, a white male – who happens to be a former member of the National Party started the attack.

As a footnote:

ANC MPLs knew that ‘attacking’ and criticizing Premier Zille would not work and they decided to go for the Speaker. In politics this is probably allowed but accusing her of acting bias and partisan was not fair, given she asked the Chief Whip of the governing party to take his seat and allowed the Chief Whip of the opposition to complete his points of order.

So she made a blunder or two and created room for the opposition to criticize, but she tried to apply the rules, constitution and treated all members equal. To top it all she managed to keep her cool and not call the police for disruptive members.

The ANC had a point of order, but the order of the day was never achieved.