ANC MPL Nontembeko Boyce has been re-elected as the speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
The EFF in KwaZulu-Natal has raised concerns about the establishment of portfolio committees in the provincial legislature, alleging a violation of the Constitution.
During Tuesday’s legislative sitting, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) walked out in protest, enabling the ANC, DA and IFP to allocate committee positions among themselves.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the EFF highlighted that the appointment of the portfolio committees was conducted in an “undemocratic” manner, specifically citing rule 195 of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
This rule mandates that:
The house must by resolution establish a range of portfolio committees within seven days of the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker after an election of the legislature.
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However, KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Nontembeko Boyce, who was re-elected on 14 June, only established the portfolio committees on 9 July, nearly four weeks after her appointment.
The EFF claims this delay constitutes a breach of the constitutional requirement, undermining the democratic process.
The government of provincial unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal, consisting of the IFP, ANC, DA and National Freedom Party, has been criticised by the EFF as the “rhetoric ANC and grand coalition partners” for allegedly disregarding the will of the people.
The EFF said:
The EFF does not support the outcome of yesterday’s legislature sitting and calls for the re-establishment of portfolio committees within the KwaZulu-Natal legislature whereby correct procedures are followed.
During the contentious sitting presided over by Boyce in Pietermaritzburg, the ANC secured seven out of 10 chair positions, including the chair of chairs position, which went to former MEC for sport, arts, and culture, and current ANC treasurer Ntuthuko Mahlaba.
Other notable appointments include:
- Former education MEC Mbali Frazer as chairperson of the premier and community safety portfolio.
- Bongokwakhe Zuma, former MEC for agriculture and rural development, chairs the same portfolio.
- ANC spokesperson Mafika Mndebele appointed as the chair of economic development and tourism.
- Former Cogta MEC Bongi Sithole Moloi chairs the environmental home affairs and tourism.
- ANC MPL Mthandeni Dlungwane chairs the finance portfolio committee.
- Sizophila Mkhize, former ANC Youth League member, is appointed as the chair of sport, arts and culture portfolio committee.
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Meanwhile, the IFP scooped six chairperson and deputy chairperson positions in portfolio committees.
Among their new youthful chairpersons are Mncedisi Maphisa, the former mayor of AbaQulusi, who is chairing transport portfolio, and Andile Biyela, a former SA Democratic Students Movement, who is chairing human settlement portfolio.
Other IFP members are:
Ncamisile Nkwanyana (participation and petitions);
Phumzile Buthelezi (education);
Petros Msimango (public works); and
Ntombi Ngubane (social development).
The DA received the Cogta portfolio committee chairperson, given to MPL Marlaine Nair, and the health portfolio committee chairperson, given to Imran Keeka.
The EFF and MKP, which hold 39 of the 80 seats in the legislature but are not part of the GPU, did not receive any committee portfolios.
In response, the MKP released a statement rejecting the “flawed” establishment of portfolio committees, accusing Boyce of breaching the Constitution by delaying the establishment of the committees and altering the rules to disadvantage the MKP.
Yamkeleka Manjeya
www.news24.com
