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The DA is riding roughshod over due and proper process in the Provincial Legislature in its attempts to stop oversight of Premier Zille's government. It is now a matter of record that the Deputy Speaker has had to formally table an apology for the manner in which he chaired a sitting of the Provincial Legislature in contravention of the rules, with the encouragement of Premier Zille.

But there are numerous other incidents which give cause for considerable concern and which could set a dangerous precedent. They also fly in the face of DA Leader Helen Zille's much vaunted calls for safeguarding the constitution and institutions responsible for oversight over government, including her government.

It is now clear that the ad-hoc committee to appoint a Public Service Commissioner has not been operating as it was constituted by the Provincial Legislature. Instead of trying to reach an agreement with all parties on how to correct this, the DA has been trying all kinds of parliamentary tricks to force the committee to continue as if there
is no problem. On Friday the ANC insisted that interviews of the candidates for this position could not proceed on as scheduled. It was supported in this by the ACDP and Cope.

The ANC apologizes to those who were inconvenienced when the interviews were suddenly postponed. The DA chairperson of the Committee and the DA Chief Whip Alta Rousouw should take responsibility for this embarrassment, as they were well aware for some time of the problem but did nothing to resolve it.

Lynne Brown, the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Legislature said; "What is good for the goose must be good for the
gander. Shrill calls for transparency and the rule of law by the DA with respect to other public institutions is matched with irregularity where it is responsible in practice.

"The ANC will continue to insist on transparency and due and proper process in the Provincial Legislature."

"The DA under Zille is reducing the Provincial Legislature to a conveyor belt for executive decisions.'