ACDP Parliamentary newsletter - 21 November 2003

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In this issue:

1. Public holidays: Have your say
2. Zuma exoneration expected, says ACDP
3. ACDP is definitely growing
4. Don't stop preaching the truth
5. ACDP releases private funding information to Idasa
6. Parliament oversight role distorted
7. Reappoint Satchwell to investigate Road Accident Fund

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. Public holidays: Have your say

African Christian Democratic Party President Reverend Kenneth Meshoe has urged South Africa Christians to defend their right to celebrate Christian holy days as public holidays.

An inter-departmental task team appointed by Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi to investigate the public holiday system asked for public comment on the matter on Wednesday.

Besides determining whether there are too few or too many holidays, the team will investigate whether additional cultural, political and religious days should be declared public holidays.

"The African Christian Democratic Party has in the past rejected calls to scrap religious public holidays such as Good Friday and Christmas day and we would like to see Ascension Day returned to the calendar of public holidays. These days are sacred to Christians who are in the majority in South Africa and need to have their rights respected," ACDP President Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said.

"We encourage Christians not to remain silent but to give their input on this matter by submitting their comments to the department of home affairs," Rev Meshoe said.

Submissions must be sent to Home Affairs Committee chair Rufus Malatji by January 31 2004 by post, Private Bag x114, Pretoria 0001, faxed to (012) 316-7044 or e-mailed to judith@dbs1.pwv.gov.za.

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2. Zuma exoneration expected, says ACDP

The African Christian Democratic Party has rejected the decision by the Ethics Committee to exonerate Deputy President, saying that it was clear from the start that this would be the likely outcome.

"Although the ACDP is hardly surprised at the outcome of this matter, we are shocked by the sheer audacity of the ANC and NNP in their blatant defence of the questionable behaviour of government executive members," said ACDP Ethics Committee representative Mrs Cheryllyn Dudley.

ACDP Chief Whip Mr Louis Green, who was suspended from the committee for disclosing details of the committee's investigation when he realised that the committee was intent on exonerating Zuma, said that it was quite clear from the outset that the committee would take this decision.

"From the first meeting it was apparent that the committee's investigation was superficial and that its intention was not to unearth the truth but to cover up," Mr Green said.

Mrs Dudley criticised the ruling as premature, saying that the committee, made up of a majority of ANC and NNP members, could not come to a solid conclusion based on the contradictory evidence placed before the committee.

"It is the opinion of the ACDP that key role players and the public prosecutor should have been asked to give oral evidence before the committee before any conclusions were drawn.

"This finding should merely have been an interim one, pending the outcome of the Shaik court proceedings, which are inextricably linked to the issues discussed by the Ethics Committee. The strong likelihood that evidence will emerge during this trial would have impacted on the Ethics Committee findings and should not have been ignored," Mrs Dudley said.

"We also disagree with the Ethics Committee's finding that the question of whether the loan agreements compromised or impaired the judgement of Deputy President Zuma is not relevant. The purpose of disclosure to Parliament is to guard against situations where office bearers abuse or compromise their positions and this question is surely therefore relevant.

"This trend is of ministers being untouchable is disturbing and as a result, parliament is not performing any real oversight function. Members of Parliament are strictly dealt with, punished and in some cases forced to resign, while in matters involving the executive, Parliament treads lightly and pretends nothing has happened.

Mr Green agreed, saying that the Ethics Committee had failed Parliament and the people because it failed to play its role as the watchdog of Parliament.

"The ANC members of the committee did not have the strength of moral convictions to pursue this matter to justice," Mr Green said.

"The committee has set a dangerous precedent as anyone who is found to have received money can produce loan agreements after the fact to support non-disclosure of funds.

"The Ethics Committee was not a suitable structure to deal with such accusations as a case against an executive member of the government would not be fairly heard by Parliament. An independent inquiry should have been set up to investigate the allegations, as there is too much pressure on ANC members to support their executive," Mr Green said.

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3. ACDP support is definitely growing

The African Christian Democratic Party dismissed a survey by the Human Sciences Research Council that predicts that the ACDP is expected to win only 0.45 percent of the vote in next year's election, saying that based on ground experience and previous research, the ACDP was definitely growing.

"This study contradicts our experience on the ground as well as information from the Independent Electoral Commission indicating our growth in recent by-elections," said ACDP MP Advocate Mighty Madasa.

After launching just prior to the 1994 elections under the leadership of Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, the ACDP has increased its support base by over 1000% and continues to grow.

Starting with two members of National Parliament in 1994, the ACDP has grown to eight members at National Parliament, five members in the Provincial Legislatures and more than 60 Councillors in Metropoles and City Councils across the country. The party is now in the same position as the official opposition just before the 1999 elections.

"The reality on the ground is that throngs of people are approaching the ACDP with a view to joining the party," Adv. Madasa said.

Note:
The HSRC made the following cautionary remarks regarding their findings:

"The HSRC uses a very large sample, compared to the
commercial polls. Even so, for the smaller parties the
actual number of respondents may be less than fifty. In
such cases, there is a relatively large margin of error.

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4. Don't stop preaching the truth, says ACDP President

The ACDP was shocked to see that gospel singer Danie Botha is being taken to court by a Pretoria attorney accusing him of hate speech against homosexuals (Beeld 14 November 2003).

The attorney has alleged that Mr Botha's quote from the Bible saying that those involved in homosexual relationships will not see the Kingdom of God constitutes discrimination and hate speech. Mr Botha continued to say that if homosexuals were shocked by this, their eyes would be opened in hell.

"The fact is that the Bible clearly teaches that if sinners do not repent they will go to hell. This includes all sinners regardless of the type of sin, such as prostitutes, adulterers, fornicators and homosexuals," said ACDP President Reverend Kenneth Meshoe.

"The choice South Africans have is either to believe that the Bible is the Word of God and should be used as a guide to moral decisions, or to discard it.

"My concern is that through the targeting of Danie Botha, other preachers who refer to what the Bible considers sin, might be accused of hate speech, which will tempt the fearful and timid to stop proclaiming the truth of God," Rev Meshoe said.

Rev Meshoe said that Christians should not water down Scripture because it makes certain circles uncomfortable.

"Jesus said that people will know the truth and the truth will set them free and it is time to speak the truth in love and without apologies.

"The pubic should not limit Christian preaching to what is politically correct. If anyone's lifestyle is contrary to Bible teaching, in the words of Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5): unless sinners repent, they will perish," Rev Meshoe said.

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5. ACDP releases private funding information to Idasa

The African Christian Democratic Party has submitted audited account information as well as sources of private donations to the party to the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa).

"We are complying with Idasa's request by submitting our audited accounts for scrutiny because we feel political parties support political transparency and accountability to the electorate," said ACDP Chief Whip Mr Louis Green.

"Idasa is satisfied with our disclosure and has confirmed that they will not proceed with litigation regarding the release of sources of private funding.

"We are setting the example and we encourage other political parties to do the same and release information about their sources of donations, to help curb opportunities for corruption and a conflict of interest within political parties and the government," Mr Green said.

"Although we released certain information regarding donations in August to Idasa, it was not in great detail. We are now handing over the full information regarding our sources of donations and the amounts."

Mr Green said that South Africa requires a system of government that is accountable, representative and open and that the ACDP feels that this is a good opportunity to show its willingness to be transparent.

"Transparency and accountability to voters are among the most crucial elements of a democratic system and it is vital that voters do not feel the need to question the legitimacy of decisions made on their behalf because of the influence of donors.

"Parties that refuse to disclose their donations and sources must be questioned why and what they are trying to hide," said Mr Green.

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6. Parliament oversight role distorted

Debate on Report on Oversight and Accountability

Speech by African Christian Democratic Party MP Advocate Mighty Madasa

In terms of Chapter 4 Section 42(3) of Constitution, the National Assembly is elected to represent the people and to ensure government by the people under the constitution. It does this by scrutinizing and overseeing executive action.

Powers of the National Assembly granted in terms of Section 55(a) must ensure that all executive organs of state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it and maintain oversight over them.

In terms of section 42(3), Parliament chooses the President to ensure that the people govern.

In practice we have seen this parliament instead of ensuring oversight over the organs of state, especially the executive, doing so only against its own members. Parliament has been quick and even embarrassingly open when it dealt with MPs who have misused traveling vouchers.

Such members have been strictly dealt with, reported to the police in some instances, punished and some have resigned. Well and good. But when allegations have been leveled against some executive members or the entire government, suddenly the executive has reversed the roles and exercised oversight over parliament.

Members have been intimidated. Party discipline has been evoked. An impression has been created that protection of the executive against allegations of corruption is part and parcel of the defense of the revolution against reactionary forces and spies.

Corruption may be the new revolution but it is not in the interests of the people we were elected to represent and it is certainly not the kind of revolution that we must defend.

I hope that in the next term of parliament, especially in the advent of the Pan African Parliament, where we must play a leading role, we shall take our oversight role seriously.

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7. Reappoint Satchwell to investigate Road Accident Fund

The ACDP has called for a comprehensive inquiry into the inefficiencies, irregularities and financial mismanagement in the Road Accident Fund highlighted in a leaked internal audit report to the RAF Audit Committee.

"This report confirms the shocking state of the Road Accident Fund, which appears to lack strategic planning and foresight. These problems affect the RAF's cash flow and ability to finalise road accident claims," said ACDP spokesperson on Transport Mr Steve Swart.

"The Portfolio Committee has been asked to pass urgent legislation to assist the RAF with its cash flow problem, yet the underlying management and capacity problems have not been addressed. Widespread irregularities and mismanagement in the RAF were uncovered by the Satchwell Commission. Subsequently further irregularities and mismanagement have been uncovered in the leaked report and confirmed in a submission to the Portfolio Committee by Judge Christopher Greenland, ex-CEO of the fund.

"Whilst we appreciate that a new Board has been appointed and that there are many dedicated officials working in the RAF, we believe that the Satchwell Commission should be reappointed to investigate the findings of the report.

"There are 35 findings of irregularities in the audit report, ranging from the contravention of the Public Management Act Treasury Regulations to irregular recruitment procedures. In addition, the audit refers to an amount of R61.1 million which could constitute fruitless expenditure," Mr Swart said.

"The alleged wasteful expenditure relating to a decision to implement a new financial/accounting system - AXS One - was not, according to the audit report, preceded by a proper feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis. The report states that the installation of the new system cost approximately R16 million, while an upgrade of the existing system (ACCPAC) was quoted at R800 000.

"Whilst we have sympathy for the cash flow predicament that the RAF finds itself in, an urgent inquiry is necessary to investigate the full extent of these findings and allegations before amending legislation with far-reaching effects is passed," Mr Swart said.

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