A parliamentary debate on the appointment of a new National Lotteries Commission (NLC) board chairperson was postponed on Tuesday night after the MK Party and the EFF objected to the DA being called to speak first.
Before the DA’s Toby Chance could begin his speech, MK MP Visvin Reddy raised a point of order, demanding as the Official Opposition to speak first.
The session seemed set to descend into chaos, with the EFF supporting the MK’s position, and the MK continuing to raise points of order.
Zandile Majozi, chairing the debate, said she would not change the order of speakers and told complaining MPs to raise their complaints with the House’s Rules Committee.
But MPs kept raising points of order. At one stage, Majozi switched off an MK MP’s microphone, infuriating MK and EFF members.
Majozi finally agreed to a five-minute break, which stretched to almost an hour, for party whips to discuss the impasse. But they were unable to agree and asked for the debate to be suspended until the issue was resolved. A date has not yet been set for a fresh debate.
MPs were meant to debate a report by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition which includes a shortlist of three candidates for the NLC chair, following the resignation of Barney Pityana last year.
Pityana had two years of his five-year term remaining, and agreed to continue until the new chair is appointed.
The committee, which oversees the lottery, has recommended King Tembinkosi Bonakele, Mpho Mosing and Lufono Tokyo Nevondwe for the key post. They emerged from interviews as the top three of six candidates after the portfolio committee had whittled down a list of 22.
The committee’s report must first be tabled in Parliament and approved by MPs. The names will then be submitted to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to decide who to appoint. Tau does not have to appoint any of the three people whose names are submitted.
The 2022 board chair interview process to replace the scandal-ridden Alfred Nevhutanda was an acrimonious, drawn-out, stop-start process marked by long delays. It regularly degenerated into a war of words between the ANC and the DA. It was beset with litigation and acrimony as relations between then minister Ebrahim Patel and the NLC board soured. Ultimately, Pityana was chosen to replace Nevhutanda.
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Noise pollution: Excessive noise levels affecting residents’ well-being.
The Happy Jock
Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
Mum Mary
Fun South African Fact: The world’s largest themed resort hotel in the world – The Palace of the Lost City – is found in South Africa. Surrounding the Palace is a 25 hectare manmade botanical jungle with almost 2 million plants, trees and shrubs.