Issued by: SA Communication Service
A delegation of the National Party Caucus met with the Speaker yesterday afternoon to discuss concerns surrounding the political profile of presiding officers.
The meeting was arranged after some tensions developed following Dr Ginwala's welcoming address to President Chissano on March 1, 1995.
A memorandum setting out the National Party's views on the position of the Speaker was presented to Dr Ginwala. The Speaker explained the basis on which her statement was made.
Although no final conclusions were reached, considerable progress was made in developing mutual understanding.
Consensus was reached that a process to take the debate on the establishment of conventions, traditions and/or Codes of Conduct for this democratic (post April 1994) Parliament was needed.
The discussions took place in constructive atmosphere with the mutual aim of establishing a new parliamentary tradition. It was agreed that further discussion could take place in future.
15 March 1995