W Mchunu: Opening of the KwaZulu-Natal media gallery

2 November 2006

"Avoiding democracy decay in our society"

Programme Director
Office-bearers of the Legislature
Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) present
Secretary to the Legislature, Ms Nerusha Naidoo
Ladies and gentlemen of the media

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature aspires to be a modern, dynamic institution
reflecting professionalism, responsiveness and bias to action. This is what the
Agenda for Change Management Strategy that we adopted soon after the change of
the political leadership of the Legislature in 2004 calls for. The agenda for
Change Management further calls for the Legislature to present itself to the
public as a professional, well organised and effective institution.

We made these pronouncements about this institution largely because we
inherited a legislature that had been allowed to develop a "second hand look,"
and its services were permitted to reflect the tired, uninspired persona of its
facilities.

To achieve any of the above, the Legislature had to do many things, chief
among these, was the appointment of the Secretary to manage and drive the
process. It is now history that we did appoint the Secretary popularly known as
uNobhala. We are happy to say that, since her arrival, there has been urgency
in our quest to turn around the fortunes of the institution.

Some of the milestones we have achieved since we adopted our agenda for
Change Management Strategy are as follows:

* Approved a New Organisational Structure that has provided the institution
with new energy, re-organised and focused old jobs, streamlined reporting lines
and given us new blood.
* The passing of new Standing Rules that have re-affirmed the political and
executive authority of the Speaker and Secretary respectively.
* The above has been done through the de-establishment of the Parliamentary
Executive Board and the transfer of executive powers to manage this institution
to the above-mentioned offices.
* In terms of Language Policy, we are conducting our business fully in English
and IsiZulu as the Agenda for Change Management call us to do.

R500 000 in avoiding democracy decay and investing in the healthy
democracy

Today, we are recording yet another milestone as we officially open this
state-of-the-art R500 000 facility for the media. The Media Gallery has 12
top-of-the-range laptop computers (internet access), 12 soft leather seats, a
printer, a fax, a landline and a water cooler. It must be borne in mind that
the facility is paid for by the taxpayer. Therefore, we appeal to you to use
these facilities with care. This facility is our investment to free speech, an
investment to knowledge production and a tribute to the festivity of ideas. It
is an investment to light, and a banishment of darkness. Our democracy can only
triumph if our people receive and impart information freely. We want a robust
media and a robust citizenry.

We want a robust media because it is our firm belief that you are a guardian
of the public interest, a conduit between elected representatives and the
public. Simply put, we both work in the public interest. One of the critical
roles of the Legislature is performing an oversight role over the work of the
provincial government. We must encourage public participation and facilitate
public involvement in our law making process. We cannot do this if there is
democracy decay in our society.

Democracy decay occurs when information is suppressed, when journalists are
harassed and when journalists simply do not have access to facilities so that
they may perform their work. We remain convinced that democracy will remain
stillborn if citizens are ballooning in the sea of ignorance, starved of vital
information, insights and updates on the progress or otherwise of the work of
those they entrusted with their votes. The backbone of a healthy democracy is
an informed and empowered citizenry. Democracy requires the active
participation of citizens; they cannot partake if they are starved of
information.

Ideally, the media should keep citizens engaged in the business of
governance by informing, educating and mobilising them.

Legislature and media: Our international obligations

We also have an international obligation in enabling the media to perform
its work unhindered. In 2002, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
hosted the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Press
Union, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association and the Commonwealth
Journalists Association and the South African Editors Forum to develop a
framework of co-operation. The theme of the meeting was, "Parliament and media:
Securing an Effective Relationship." The outcome of meeting agreed on a set of
principles dubbed, "The Cape Town principles for an Informed Democracy." Some
of these principles are set out below.

Making Parliament or Legislature Newsworthy

* To advance a more participatory democracy, Parliament or Legislature
should open all their processes to media coverage, including the work of
Parliamentary or Legislature committees. (We are already doing this)
* Parliaments/Legislatures should provide schedules of committee meetings to
the media and journalists should in turn cover this important parliamentary
process. (We are providing the schedules; well the media does cover these
important meetings)
* Media coverage of committees will better involve the public in the
formulation of public policy and prevent collusion in cases where committees
are investigating wrongdoing. (Only the media people can provide update on this
point).

Going Forward

We are indeed happy to say the work of the Legislature will never again
reflect a tired persona of its old building despite constraints of operating
within a listed building. We are now unstoppable as an institution. As part of
this resolve the nerve centre of the institution, the "Office of the Speaker,"
also received a facelift to meet the needs of a modern Legislature that we
spoke about earlier. I also invite you to take a walk about in the new
facility.

It is indeed a pity that this gallery and the office of the Speaker remain
inadequate in serving the growing needs of a modern Legislature I referred to.
Despite the revamp of the new media gallery, only 12 seated journalists can be
accommodated and the office of the Speaker can still not accommodate the Deputy
Speaker, let alone the full compliment of the Speaker's office staff.

I wish to remind you that the Cabinet has resolved to build a new
Legislature Complex. We are convinced that such a decision is prudent and
clearly, it was inevitable. The Cabinet decision was a response to many
experts' reports that concluded with finality that the present facilities as
they stand are, "inadequate." Last year the Extended Whips Committee of the KZN
Legislature took a timely resolution on (26 October 2005) to recommend to the
then Parliamentary Executive Board that, "The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature should
explore as one of many options the building of a new parliamentary chamber in
order to meet the present needs of our elected representatives."

The Extended Whips Committee comprises of all whips of all political parties
represented in the KZN Legislature. The Whips meeting came in the wake of a
report from the Department of Works regarding Legislature facilities. The Works
report concluded that, "the office space of the present KZN Legislature is not
adequate and needs more attention." That report remains as relevant as it was
in 2005. I am happy to say time for exploration is now over as the new complex
will be constructed.

Conclusion

The building of the new Legislature Complex, boasting of adequate facilities
to accommodate the needs of a modern Legislature is not a matter of choice. It
has to be done. We may choose to do it now or postpone it, only to have it done
later. It is deemed prudent to do it now rather than to continue to incur costs
on rentals and lease agreements. We have no luxury of dilly-dallying, hence the
Cabinet decision, "do it now." The new facility must be a pristine building
that posterity will be proud of.

Let me invite all of you to see your or our new facilities.

I thank you.

Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
2 November 2006