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Business Day
(Johannesburg)
February 26,
2003
Summary: Discussing the State
of the Nation address, the author praises South Africa’Äôs system of
full representation (proportional representation), but also feels
that the government should go further in representing and granting
access to the people of South Africa.
Marginalised Need Better Access
to the Workings of Parliament
Business Day
(Johannesburg)
February 26, 2003
Johannesburg THE
delivery of the State of the Nation address at the official opening
of Parliament by the president is an affair that understandably
grips the attention of the citizens of the country. The president
who on being elected by Parliament to that office ceases to be a
member of that body addresses not only members of Parliament but
speaks to the nation as well. He delivers to the nation, through
Parliament, a report on what government has done since his last
address a year ago. He explains whether or not government's goals
were achieved. He goes on to chart the way forward, outlining the
programme which government has to pursue to make the lives of the
people better. Parliament, including provincial parliaments, can
pride itself on being truly a parliament of the people. This is not
so merely because the proportional representation system of
elections makes it possible for even the tiniest political party to
have a voice. Every member of the public is in theory free to
attend parliamentary proceedings, in committee and in the plenary
sessions. The public is also allowed to make representations to the
parliamentary committees whenever they deal with draft laws that may
have a bearing on the lives of that specific social sector. This
means even the villagers of Ngqungqu, where I come from, can
influence the outcome of the decisions of our legislators. The
truth, though, is that the indigent and marginalised communities are
generally not able to take advantage of these opportunities. They do
not have money to organise themselves to surf the internet, to
understand and speak English and, importantly, to transport
delegates to Parliament. In extreme cases, it has to be conceded,
the poor can be assisted by Parliament to transport their
representatives to make submissions to the seat of legislative
authority. But not many are aware of how to go about gettin_g such
assistance. But going back to the official opening of Parliament by
the president. The people who attend can only be described as the
elite or those associated with SA's elite. These would be spouses of
some of the parliamentarians, envoys, some of SA's top businessmen
and personalities, members of the press and other media. Then the
seats in the public gallery are insufficient. Those of this group
who cannot be thus accommodated are placed in halls fitted with
closedcircuit television screens which cover the proceedings in the
National Assembly chamber. Modern democracies the world over
conduct similar ceremonies in similar fashion. The grandeur of the
procession preceding the entry of the president in the chamber is a
sight to behold. Those watching the proceedings on television have
an even better view as the function is shown from many angles. It
would seem as if nothing could surpass the splendour of the
procession of the speakers of the provincial legislatures, the
provincial premiers, the judges of the high, supreme, constitutional
and specialised courts, not to mention the presiding officers of
Parliament as they precede and escort the deputy president and
president. I have always wondered to myself, though, whether those
in attendance, and those watching from home and listening to the
commentary on radio, are ever struck by the irony playing itself
out. The occupation of the Cape Town-based parliament by an African
contingent of parliamentarians is a telling symbol of the defeat of
colonialism by the natives of the land. Thus one would have
expected that on such an occasion, the kings and queens of the
natives of this land the Khoi, the San, the Nguni, the Sotho, the
Venda, the Tsonga from whose forebears land and freedom were
wrested, would be part of the tail-end of the procession, in line
with African custom. I wondered, as the president cited the
dignitaries in attendance, if he was aware the monarchs were nowhere
near Parliament he had cited traditional leaders as some of the
guests. This anomaly in the land of Africa's rebirth will surely
have to be corrected when the next address is delivered, as well as
when the president is inaugurated after the elections next year.
With the completion of the long awaited white paper on traditional
leadership imminent, there will now be no more excuses for the
state's failure to treat the country's royalty in the manner
befitting their status in the eyes of their people. Consideration
might also have to be given to the address being delivered in a
stadium such as the Newlands rugby stadium. Such a venue would make
the event one that truly brings government to the people. The elite
and the ordinary would be able to rub shoulders, in an imbizo as is
known by the people, without feelings of guilt or alienation.
Thereafter more effective ways would have to be devised to bring the
indigent and marginalised to interact with the parliamentary
committees. Holomisa (A! Dilizintaba) is an ANC MP and President of
the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA. He writes in his personal capacity. |
