North West people experience first-hand debates of Parliament

About 300 people witnessed for the first time their elected representatives debating in a first Legislature Sitting that was taken to the people of Matlosana on Thursday 30 August 2012.

It was laughter and entertainment as Members of the Provincial Legislature were stepping on each other’s toes debating issues affecting the people of the province.

This is part of the “O re bone, re go bone” programme pronounced by the Speaker, Hon. Supra Mahumapelo, during his 2012/13 Budget Speech. The programme is aimed at making the Legislature more visible and reachable to the communities, and also to make sure that voices of the people of the province are incorporated in the Legislature Oversight work.

The people of the North West province had an opportunity to listen and hear first-hand on how matters that concern their lives are debated by the Members of Parliament.

Amongst the issues on the order paper was the debate on the Marikana issue, where Democratic Alliance leader, Hon. Hattingh said it reminded him of the 1960 Sharpville Massacre. United Christian Democratic Party Leader, Hon. Moerane also called on the “government to wake up before the nation suffers another loss”.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements and Public Safety, Hon. Mahlakeng, requested all Members of the Provincial Legislature to rise above the temptations of pointing fingers at one another, instead should stand on one ground and give support where it is due.

“Let us stop blaming one another for the tragedy that happened at Marikana, but rather work together in giving support to those affected,” said Hon. Mahlakeng.

The MEC for Human Settlements and Public Safety, Hon. Nono Maloyi also expressed condolences and emphasised the support government gave to the affected people during the time of the tragedy.

This he said responding to the opposition parties’ accusations of that the ANC government did not give enough support the grieving families.

“I would like for my honorable members to note that instead of just giving public speeches at Marikana like other members of the opposition did, we were hands on and even slept there, went to the mortuaries and even helped to carry the corpses, we sat with the bereaved, cried, consoled them on a day to day basis, our President even had to shorten his trip and rush back from Mozambique to as this was taken as a national tragedy.

Cope MPL, Hon. Mashori also took to the stand to debate on the 1st quarterly report for the Department of Health arguing that amongst other issues, that there is a shortage of ambulances in the province, that people need to be informed of the students that are taken yearly to Cuba to study medicine and yet the province still has a shortage of doctors. Hon. Mashori also complained of the Gelukspan and Sweizer-Renecke hospitals, that they are dirty and there are also long queues.

Other than that, MPLs commended the health MEC, Dr Masike for the good work, and the new state of the art hospital in Bray which is due to open next year March 2013.