Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
20 July 2001
I have learnt with dismay of the suggestion by DA Spokesperson for Health, Mr Jack Bloom that I should be censured by the Gauteng legislature for not answering written questions posed by the Legislature.
Surely Mr Bloom should know that according to the Amended Standing Rules, chapter IV, clause 4.23 (2) of the Gauteng Legislature, he has a right to ask the legislature to convert the written questions to oral form. The rule states clearly that outstanding written questions that do not meet the prescribed deadline of ten days will be converted into oral questions. Perhaps I need to state that I have never declined to answer any oral question posed to me by the legislature, besides, some of the issues he raises in his questions require me to personally debate and engage the concerns of the DA.
The suggestion that I "persistently" failed to answer questions for reply is a deliberate attempt by Mr Bloom to mislead the public. Gauteng Health is a public service and this department fully respects the right of the public to have access to updated information on health issues. Mine has always been an open communication policy.
My department normally have answered questions in time, and Mr Bloom has been quoted in the press referring to information he received from my department. All questions that I have not provided a written replied to, most of which, ironically, come from Mr Bloom in person, require extensive and thorough research and my responsibility is to provide honest and well-researched responses to the legislature. Also, some of the questions he posed are simply repetitions of questions he posed in the past two years. I have since, within my rights, referred him to my previous responses and speeches.
I wish to make it clear that there has never been an attempt from my side to deny the public its right to know of any health issues, and the allegation that I have deliberately withheld legislature answers due to their "political sensitivity" is all hogwash. This allegation is not only unfounded and uninformed, but is also empty political noise worthy for dismissal.
For Enquiries Contact : Hope Huma at 082 555 2302
Issued by: Office of the MEC for Health