A functional Parliament for a successful GNU

The following speech was delivered on the evening of 19 July by the Democratic Alliance Chief Whip, George Michalakis MP, in response to President Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address:

Madam Speaker

Even though some in this house are still in denial, the fact remains that South Africa now has a Government of National Unity (GNU) in place. They can launch frivolous court challenges to contest that fact but that will not stop adults in the room from getting on with the business of governing and delivering for South Africans.

As we celebrate the GNU, we must ensure that Parliament remains robust. Without debate, without constructive criticism no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive.

Parliament is a separate branch of government, independent of the Executive and Judiciary. Part of our constitutional mandate is to hold the executive to account.

The opposition does not have a monopoly on this role. In a robust democracy, the active participation of back bench MPs from all parties is vital as it adds value to the legislative oversight role of Parliament.

So, Mr President, it is up to us as Parliament to ensure that the strategic objectives put before us last night, are monitored by every committee, that we give the public to be engaged and to help where we can to make it succeed. And we will do the same to ensure that laws passed in this house create the freedom and jobs that we need.

We will help your Executive to deliver on this by holding them to account and monitoring their progress every step of the way. We must make this Parliament and this government of national unity work. Because there is no real alternative.

Madam Speaker, when the Hon. Malema in 2014 took all the EFF’s speaking time for himself, I thought I would never hear anything more boring. I was proven wrong today when we all lost 30 minutes of our lives that we can never get back. Because for something to be a meaningful contribution, it has to not only be constructive, but also intelligent and entertaining. What we have heard this morning, meets none of those three criteria.

If there is one contribution that the Official Opposition does make, it is to serve as a visible and audible reminder of the trouble we will be in if we don’t succeed. Their caucus attendance register reads like the index of the Zondo Report, with one notable absentee: the face of State Capture, sitting in Nkandla, pulling their strings.

And then we have the EFF: overalls serving as a cover up for empty Gucci suits paid for by now starving gogo’s whose money went into VBS Bank. And as I’ve said before: if EFF/MK is the future, Madam Speaker, the future is not very bright.

But there is hope for those who have been seeking opportunity and real freedom. There were some breakthroughs announced by the President last night that the DA has put on the table over the past few years. Suggestions that will get South Africans into jobs again.

Mr President, thank you for including these constructive suggestions that we agree on and thanks to the votes of millions of South Africans who backed these initiatives, such as:

• The deregulation and/or review of fuel price model
• The increase basket of VAT excluded food items
• To abolish Cadre Deployment and end political interference in the public service.
• And the release of state land as a priority for meaningful land reform to mention a few.

Madam Speaker, we have to make the GNU, in defence of our constitution, work. Because the alternative is simply too ghastly to contemplate.

We wish the President and his Executive well in this mammoth task. We do so with one message: where you should be held accountable, you will find a Parliament that stands ready to do its oversight duty as required by the people of this country. And where you act in their interest, you will find us standing behind you in support. We wish you, and this government, well.

Thank you