The DA today walked out of the National Assembly (NA) Rule Committee’s Rules Review process.

The walkout was in objection to the ANC members of the Rules Committee's refusal to compromise on proposals regarding the Order of Business for sittings and Oral Questions Without Notice.

Members Statements and Motions are a vital aspect of sittings and provide MPs an opportunity to raise crucial issues from across the country and their constituencies. The ANC's insistence that these move to the end of the day's business under the new NA rules diminishes their importance, and would ensure that Ministers and MPs only attend sittings long enough for debates and oral questions before leaving.

The DA had proposed the reintroduction of Oral Questions Without Notice in an attempt to revitalise the current Oral Questions format which has become rather stale. Currently MPs are required to submit their Oral Questions to the President at least 16 days before they are asked in the House, and questions to the Deputy President 9 days. This lengthy lead time usually ensure that the issues discussed are no longer relevant or have been addressed via other channels. Oral Questions Without Notice would mean that Ministers could be questioned about recent and salient issues on the spot, and would require them to be in the House more often and actually aware of the issues within their portfolios.

Throughout this lengthy review process the ANC has made proposal after proposal to diminish Parliament’s Executive oversight capacity, and oppress the opposition. Today was the final straw and we will challenge these new rules and the committees report when they reach the National Assembly.

Issued by DA