DA to drag Parliament to court for failure to find alternative venue
The DA says it will turn to the court to challenge Parliament’s failure to find a most suitable venue following January’s devastating fire.
MPs have been making use of the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town since the fire, which gutted the National Assembly and Old Assembly buildings.
The Good Hope Chamber can only accommodate 120 of the 400 members.
Addressing the media in Cape Town on Monday, DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said there has been little progress made in finding suitable alternative venues for Parliament and its committees to convene.
"This is why we have taken the decision to refer Parliament’s refusal to find alternative venues for the institution to conduct its work while the rebuilding is set to commence to our lawyers for review and challenging.
"We believe that this decision is in direct contravention of sections 59 and 72 of the Constitution which forces both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces – respectively – to facilitate public involvement in the processes of the Assembly, committees and conduct its business in a manner that is accessible to the public."
Gwarube says National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is responsible for ensuring that the institution gives effect to the Constitution.
"In addition to this, Chapter 4 part 4 of the National Assembly rules places the responsibility of ensuring public access and participation in the business of Parliament firmly with the speaker. We have given this process almost a year; it is clear that the ANC is only too happy to have Parliament’s oversight mechanisms hamstrung. That is why we will seek to approach the courts."
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