GETTING RID OF PROVINCES WILL BE ADMISSION OF ANC FAILURE

Some positive news recently emerged after DA Leader and Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, met with President Jacob Zuma. This was that provinces are not in the immediate firing line of the ANC Government. However, Zuma’s assurances did not close the door on either the debate or the possibility of provinces disappearing in the future. He just indicated that provinces were here to stay for the time being and that he will inform other parties when this changes. Thus it can be argued that the door is still wide open on the issue.
A further sign that the door is still wide open on the future of provinces is the fact that Constitutional Amendment 17 is still on the table. This amendment will give central government the power to intervene in the executive decision making of municipal councils should it experience resistance to the execution of its centrally formulated schemes. Power, I would suggest, paving the way for the abolition of provinces and regulating a centralised relationship between national and local government.
Should provinces be abolished in the future it will lead to an over centralisation of power and it will effectively erode South Africa’s Constitution to such an extent that it will impede the freedom its citizens are enjoying currently. There will be less accountability by Government as central government will become extremely big and inaccessible. Local government, even though it might enjoy more powers, will just become even more derelict in service delivery as it will not be able to deal with the added responsibilities. It already struggles with its current mandate how will it deal with current provincial powers being devolved to it in future?
It seems as if, technically, Jacob Zuma was honest with HelenZille when he said that provinces will remain for the time being. However, I do not believe he was totally honest about the ANC’s plans for provinces once “for the time being” has expired. I still firmly believe that provinces are still very much in the firing line of the ANC government. The main argument will be that provinces are a “stone in the river” slowing down the flow of resources necessary for proper service delivery.
This argument does not hold water as the flow of resources can be accelerated through proper and capable management and management systems and procedures. The argument does inherently come down to an admission by the ANC that it is unable to govern provinces. An inherent admission that the ANC failed despite hailing their successes during every election campaign. The ANC does not seem able to manage within any type of system that is not centrally controlled (i.e. control freaking).
So, beware the debate about provinces are still a very hot issue and we should not become complacent based on “technically honest” assurances. We cannot go forward on assurances, what we need is a commitment from President Zuma that provinces should stay, we need a totally honest stance before we can become assured.

18 June 2009 - The Gautrain Visit!

Today I had quite an interesting experience. I visited one of the Gautrain sites. The Gautrain is a rapid rail link that will connect the OR Tambo Airport by rail to Sandton and on the north-south axis Johannesburg Park Station will be connected with Pretoria and Hatfield stations via Sandton. A ride between Johannesburg and Pretoria stations will be 35 minutes! Much better than the hour plus it takes on the highway nowadays. The Gautrain is the largest greenfields rail project in the world currently and will cost about R 30 billion. You can read more interesting facts about the train at www.gautrain.co.za.

The visit was very interesting and impressive. It started out at the Gautrain headquarters in Linbro Park where we received a safety induction. After the induction we were presented with a slide show about the project and its progress. According to the presenter they are ahead of their schedule to finish the rail link.

After the presentation and a number of questions we were issued with safety shoes, reflector jackets and hard hats and were put on a bus which headed to the Gautrain depot in Midrand. The depot is where the trains are stored, assembled, tested (each train must complete 3000 test hours before it can be commissioned) and maintained. Very well equipped. Currently the site also accommodates the concrete casting works for the viaduct parts. This part will be converted to a bus depot for the Gautrain buses.

After arriving at the depot we had another safety briefing (they are really very safety conscious) and were taken off to the stores where the trains are being kept. As you can see from the photographs we were able to inspect the trains close up and were explained how the driver controls work. Very high tech stuff. There were (obviously) opportunities for pictures and questions to the resident experts. All the while being watched closely by the security guards. Unfortunately we couldn’t get onto a moving train but did see them running up and down the test track. These trains achieve 160 km/h (they achieved this yesterday and today – the engineers are very chuffed!), really quick.

Also interesting are the track inspection vehicles. Three Land Rovers fitted with track wheels (small train wheels) that engage once they are on the track and then inspect the tracks to make sure the trains can use them safely. Good to know they are doing this because it would not be fun crashing in one of these trains at a 160 km/h!!

The trains run on electricity which they get from 25 KVA (25 000 volt!) overhead lines – it was made clear to us a number of times that should you touch the overhead wire, it will be the only time you will get to do it – you will end up a small heap of carbon if you do.
Well, enough about trains – check out my pics and the website for more interesting stuff.

NOW ABOUT MY WEEKEND AHEAD

If you thought us politicians do a weekday, daytime only job, think again. Yes, another weekend full of politics. Quite a significant one actually.

On Friday afternoon it is off to Cape Town where I will attend my last ADAC (Association of DA Councillors) National Council meeting (see www.adac.co.za for more info about ADAC). On Saturday my successor will be elected after I make a presentation about the ADAC strategy and our future training approach. I am really sad to leave ADAC as it has been such an enriching experience and probably one of the best positions you can ever occupy in politics. However, I am now an MPL and therefore have to move on as new challenges await me.

Soon after making my presentation on Saturday morning it is back to Gauteng and off to Kwa Ndaba where our caucus (DA Gauteng Provincial Caucus) will be having our first bosberaad (team building and strategy formulation meeting). On Sunday it is back home.

I am particularly also looking forward to Monday when I will have my first portfolio committee meeting. Come back on Monday evening or Tuesday to read more about what goes on in such a committee.

Enjoy your weekend! I hope I can catch the end of the Springboks vs. British and Irish Lions test. Go Bokke!!

Thursday 11 June 2009 - My Maiden Speech

After the freezing junket at the opening of the legislature in Kliptown, Soweto, it is back to the more high tech and comfortable Gauteng Provincial Legislature building in the centre of Johannesburg. Today we debate the Premier's fiery State of the Province speech that she delivered in Kliptown.
I, together with a few of my colleagues, were given the opportunity to deliver our maiden speeches during the two day debate. Today it was Mike Moriarty, Myself and Bev Abrahams delivering our maiden speeches. On Friday, Khume Ramulifho and Gavin Lewis delivered their maiden speeches.
I was quite nervous, but once I got into my stride it was OK. I can't wait to give my next speech. For interest sake, here is my maiden speech.

SPEECH BY FRED NEL MPL DA GAUTENG SPOKESPERSON ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN REPLY TO THE PREMIER’S STATE OF THE PROVINCE SPEECH
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
THURSDAY 11 JUNE 2009 AT 10:00
EMBARGO: DELIVERY
Honourable Speaker, having been a councillor until recently I have experienced firsthand the challenges faced by municipalities in our province. I was therefore thankful to hear that the Premier committed the Province to improve local government delivery and finances in her State of the Province speech.
Speaker, the Premier summed it up correctly when she indicated that “Fraud and corruption is eating into the moral fibre of our society.” This makes me hopeful that corruption and maladministration will finally be addressed with the necessary intent. I believe the Premier’s first test will be to address the allegations of wrongdoing at the Nokeng Tsa Taemane (Cullinan) municipality where political leaders used Council credit cards like their own piggy banks in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. The way issues like these are dealt with will set the real tone of how corruption and maladministration is dealt with by this administration.
Speaker, the Premier’s promise to strengthen local government structures and ward committees and to empower councillors is commendable provided that action follows words this time around. However, the DA must warn against creating unrealistic expectations with regards the powers of individual ward councillors.
Ward councillors do not have the power or means to respond to the issues raised by the communities they serve, even though they would like to. Community issues relating to housing, roads, infrastructure, community safety and even speed bumps are addressed collectively at Council level. Leaving ward councillors at the mercy of the municipality to accommodate such issues in the IDP and within a reasonable time frame.
Ward councillors can only be empowered by providing them with ward-based budgets which they in conjunction with ward committees can allocate to respond quickly to issues raised by communities. This will also increase the relevance of ward committees who are discouraged due to their limited powers and influence.
Madam Speaker, community development workers (CDW’s) are currently a source of conflict in wards. They are appointed by province but are seen as interfering with the work of ward councillors. Their lack of accountability to local government causes further suspicion about their role among ward councillors. Whether it is fair to saddle municipalities with the additional financial and managerial burden of CDW’s initiated and owned by Province remains debatable. The concept of CDW’s requires a serious re-think, and this time ward councillors should be involved in such discussions.
Speaker the DA is delighted that Province is assisting local governments to become sustainable and viable entities. The collection of consumer debt has been a major problem for the past eight and a half years since the new system of local government was implemented. Municipalities lack the management capacity to ensure that consumer debt is collected and in many instances they make use of ineffective and expensive methods to try and recoup the debt owed by their debtors.
According to figures released by Treasury last week municipalities in Gauteng are collectively owed R 24,9 billion by consumer debtors. R 20 billion of this debt is older than 90 days which is confirmation of serious management deficiencies in collecting revenues. This impact negatively on cash flow which in turn impacts a municipality’s ability to deliver services.
The DA has calculated that if only a third of this debt could be recovered it would fund the increases that were proposed by municipalities in Gauteng for the 2009/10 financial year.
Speaker it is also the DA’s view that the MEC for Local Government and the Premier should carefully consider municipal budgets submitted for approval. Within the current economic climate municipal budgets that propose higher than inflation increases are immoral and borders on being criminal. The DA is understands that increases from suppliers have to be accommodated, but we can’t understand why municipalities would increase their margins on water and electricity at the same time.
Municipal budgets should be recession friendly and the DA calls on the MEC and Premier to consider the economic impact of the proposed increases by municipalities on the Province’s economy before rubber stamping them.
As a Province we need to remain competitive in national and international markets to attract investment in order to create jobs and promote economic growth in our Province. Municipal tariff structures play a crucial role in promoting this competitiveness. Municipal tariffs also contribute to inflation and increases input costs for industries in our province.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the DA welcomes the intention of the Premier to improve local government in our province and we will judge her by the outcomes resulting from her promises. The DA will play a constructive role in the process to improve local government in our Province and we look forward to starting with this process.
Thank You

Tuesday 9 June 2009 - The Soweto Sitting

It is a freezing Tuesday morning in Kliptown in Soweto and we attended the official opening of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (yes another one). The main event was the Premier's State of the Province speech.

Kliptown is a significant place in South African history as it is the place where the ANC held its Congress of the People and adopted the famous Freedom Charter. You can Google it for more information.

Arriving at the venue was a bit of a mission because of all the closed roads, luckily I had my accreditation and a firendly metro police man gave me parking in front of the venue.

The MPL's (i.e. us) had to sit outside in the freezing wind while the VIP's had a nice comfortable wait inside the main tent (erected for the event). Well all but Fred. I was freezing my butt off so I joined the VIP's in the tent.

This usually marks the official opening of the Legislature despite us having had a few sittings beforehand. The purpose of the event is for the Premier to indicate her programme for delivery and her style of government since this is her first State of the Province speech of her term.

The Premier gave a lively and fiery speech full of promise, light on substance, but reminiscent of DA policy!! The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Her actions must now match her promises, which I think may not be that easy. But let's wait and see.

Monday 18 May

Well not much action to date as we await our schedules for portfolio meetings. The administration is still sorting this out because some portfolios were merged. We will probably start in June. our next sitting will be on June 8 when the premier delivers her state of the province speech.

In the mean time I have received some constituency complaints and will be dealing with these issues - all related to my portfolios at the moment. I will also be conducting planning for my portfolio soon with other party roleplayers soon.

Apart from this it is very quiet at the moment. Although the political scene is very abuzz with all kinds things happening. From Helen Zille's cabinet to the transport minister's car that he received as a gift.

Well plitics at the best of times is a bumpy ride - so fasten your seatbelts!!

Monday 11 May The second sitting

Today we had our second official sitting. The chairpersons of the committees and a few other officials were appointed and a resolution was taken to continue debating an appropriations bill.
We were also given our portfolios and I will be primary spokesperson for local government (part of the housing and local government portfolio) and deputy spokesperson for Roads and Public Transport.

The FF+ at a Cross Road?

One of the main talking points surrounding the appointment of the cabinet is the appointment of Pieter Mulder (leader of the FF+) as a deputy minister by the President. This needs some analysis.

There is also a debate raging within the FF+ about Mulder's acceptance of the post. The result being their youth leader's suspension and a threat to disband their youth movement for criticising the move into government. From internal FF debates it is clear that there are two reasons why a big part of the FF+ wants to go this route.

Firstly, the FF+ reckons this position will give them an opportunity to obtain a sympathetic ear from the President and the ANC for issues key to them, including Afrikaner self-determination and recognition of Orania in line with the party's volkstaat (independent ethnic nation state) policy. The question is how they will act when their requests are met with a firm "no"?

They also reckon they will keep their independence and will be able to criticise government as an opposition party.

This last selling point seems impossible. Remember that Mulder today took an oath pledging allegiance to the government and acting in the interest of government. He can therefore not criticise govenment but will be expected, according to his oath, to defend the actions of government. Sure this does not exclude his party from criticising government, but in essence his party will be opposing him and criticising him when government fails on issues. This will inevitably lead to conflict in the FF.

Secondly, from these debates it is clear that many within the FF+ sees this position as a possible lifeline to a party that has consistently lost support in elections since 1999 and now standing at 0,83% of the total national vote. However, if they are unsuccessful in delivering on the expectations created of how they will sell their issues to government (i.e. the ANC) as mentioned in the first point, it will turn out a spectacular failure for them as a party and would spell the end of the FF+.

No matter what happens, the FF+ is unlikely to achieve any success with having its party leader acting as a deputy minister in the Zuma government. It is likely that the FF would lose more support and inevitably fail to exist. So this may after all be a move to secure a pension by Mulder as mentioned by Helen Zille.

Monday 11 May - The Second Sitting

Today we had our second sitting in the house. It was to take note of the MEC's appointed by the Premier, approve the committees and their chairpersons and a few other administrative decisions. It was a quick sitting and over in an hour.
We are also settled in now. We have been allocated offices and the last admin is being sorted out around IT and cell phones. All in all the transition to the legislature has gone quite quick.
By the end of the week we will also know which committees we will serve on.
We will have our next sitting on 8 June for the state of the province address but we do expect that the portfolio committees will start functioning in the mean time. Keep watching this space or more news on the functioning of the legislature.

The Swearing In - 6 May 2009

So today was the big day! I am being sworn in as a MPL at 9:00 at the Gauteng Legislature in the middle of Joburg - yeah right!! Make that 10:00!!

Traffic was absolute murder and the highway just did not want to move. I finally phoned my whip Paul and told him I was gonna be late for my first sitting..."don't worry" said Paul..."everybody is stuck in the traffic they are going to start late in in any case". Relief.

Part of the problem was the streets they closed for the inauguration of the premier and MPL's! Which in the end proved to be quite uneccessary. Nonetheless the trip was murder.

So we finally got to the legislature and as I walk into the building with Thana by my side (very quietly leaving me to boil) I get the SMS from Paul "we've started". "I'm here" I reply. I quickly "dump" Thana in the capable hands of Ann Barnes our office manager and Di Thomas one of our researchers while I dash down to the chamber like a madman possessed.

As I walk in the first MPL's get sworn in - I take my seat - the second bunch get called to the front. Mike says "You're here you can relax now" and I think I am glad I am sitting next to him.

Just as I take a breath, fill out my attendance form - they call my name - I am in the Afrikaans bunch and the Deputy Judge President says "Raise your right hands and read the oath". In a cacophony sounding like a "spreekkoor" gone wrong the 1 ANC, 1 COPE, 1 FF and 3 DA Afrikaans speaking MPL's read their oaths - generating a short but distinct laughter from our colleagues in the chamber.

We finish "So help my God" and sign our forms and return to our seats.

So there I sit waiting for the rest of my colleagues to be sworn in realising that we left in such a rush that I skipped breakfast. My tummy doesn't like that. So I start attacking the bottle Valpre water graciously provided by the legislature. However, this just compounds another little problem I forgot to address before leaving home - and there was no time to stop on the way. So I thinki to myself - at the right moment I will leave the chamber visit the place for men and then hop into the members' lounge for a quick bite on a hard cookie just to quiet the rumble in my tummy. This opportunity arises as they decide to swear in the Premier and they let in the press for photographs. I stand up, bow to the podium and dash off to address my pressing needs.

Get to the members' lounge - they're not providing any little samies or even dry cookies, just a bunch of closed bain maries. This is not gonna work I think to myself so I return, slightly disappointed but relieved, to the chamber.

As I walk in towards my seat I almost fall over from shock - not hunger - in front of me taking photographs is somebody I safely "dumped" in the hands of our staff earlier. "How did she escape?" I wonder to myself and decide to not make a fuss or ask questions just sit, pray that she doesn't get thrown out and smile while she takes pics. My wife get intp places in a flash where I had to struggle 21 years to get into!!

Some of my colleagues did not reaslise who she was but did "find it strange that someone would take photographs of the DA ignoring the Premier's swearing in" as Jack Bloom remarked. So we have a few special pics of all of us in our seats (see the pics in this post).

All in all I enjoyed the whole swearing in thing and I enjoyed my first sitting with my new colleagues - so far a nice bunch of people.

Thana also enjoyed it being able to move around with the media guys and being able to meet Steven Grootes from 702 who we listened to on the radio on the way to the legislature. All in all - great fun!!!

5 May 2009 - The Mock Sitting

As I indicated yesterday, today we had our mock sitting. We basically sat in the auditorium got lectures on the basics of the rules of the house and the cute little touch screens that we use, once they work fully, for all kind of stuff.
The mock sitting ended with a run down of tomorrow's inauguration/ swearing in procedures. The nice thing about the mock sitting was that we were able to get used to our seats in the legislature. I am sitting between Mike Moriarty and Bev Abrahams and have Thomas Walters, Paul Willemburg, Solly Nkhi, Khumi Ramulifho, Neill Campbell and Gavin Lewis in close proximity - oh and off course chief whip Glenda Steyn! I already feel at home in the house and am looking forward to the first real debate.
Things are moving fast now. Today I got a parking space (with my name on it!), access card, office allocation as well as my portfolios. I will be spokesperson on local government (my first choice - yeah!) and deputy spokesperson on public transport, roads and stormwater (could have been worse!). I look forward to my exciting and challenging two portfolios and I think I will be having a lot of fun with them.
As I said tomorrow it is our formal swearing in (as Paul said today he loves swearing!) and after that we will hopefully get our programmes and start working proper.
I still have to deal with the admin around the medical aid transition and as well as my cellphone porting (i must choose a handset on Friday - these choices are killing me!).
Tomorrow will be the inauguration edition!!!

Admin Admin Admin! Monday 4 May 2009

Today we had to complete most of our admin at the legislature. Geez, this part of life really gets me down!!! To give you an idea. We had to fill in forms by the dozens relating to, bank details, medical aid, pension fund, security cards, gym membership (yes we have a gym!) and cell phone contracts. You can only imagine!
But that's not all. I finally got a bank stamp to confirm my account number and found out from MTN what the procedure is to "port" my number (See legislature is not big on choice for members). Now I have to sort out the whole cancellation of one medical aid getting onto another (more expensive) medical aid (which is subsidised - kind of).
Admin, Admin, Admin!! This is not my strong point!!!
We also received a briefing on the structure of the legislature and met some of the main role players. They also gave us lots if information on rules, etc. that we have to learn as well as nice bags and diaries (highlight of the day!).
So today was boring from the outside looking in, but believe me it was hectic for a guy who thought he was on his medical aid and cell phone network for life (and wanted it so!!). Tomorrow we have our mock sitting!

The New MPL - Thursday 30 April 2009

Well after being elected to the gauteng Provincial Legislature I have been in limbo. A bit of nomansland country moving from council to the legislature. That is why I was glad we had a caucus on Thursday 30 April.
at the caucus meeting we elected our new caucus management and also received information about our induction.
Unfortunately I cannot tell much about what happens in a caucus, no not because I am an irregular attendee, but because caucus meetings are usually very private meetings.
A caucus is a group of people in a legislature, parliament or council who belong to the same party - in European countries they refer to them as fractions (fraktie). The caucus meeting allows this group of people to discuss how they will vote on matters and what their strategy will be to either govern or give the governing party a hard time when they launch actions contrary to our policies.
It is very rare that you will ever read in the media about the discussions in a caucus. It is a private place for members to discuss issues openheartedly with each other.
Well hope that gave you some insight!

Campaigning for the DA - 22 Days to Go!!

Can you believe it that there are only 22 Days to go to Election Day!!?? It felt like only yesterday when the election was announced and now we are nearing the end of the campaign at a rapid speed.

It has really been a different but also fun camapign at the same time thus far. Also a very positive campaign. Being out there doing foot canvassing, handing out pamphlets, being visible at sport events, visiting retirement homes and other special homes and holding tables at shopping centres I have never felt such a positive vibe towards the DA in an election as this time around.

People are interested in politics again and they just want to chat to you about Helen Zille and the DA and ghow important it is to drive the ANC below a two thirds majority. Even though many of us, especially the candidates, are feeling tired, we are pumped because of the positive response we have received thus far.

This makes me very optimistic about the DA's chances in the coming election. Our campaign is running smooth and I don't think we have ever before been so visisble as we are this time around. Apart form the ANC I have not seen other parties campaigning on the ground outside the eyes of the media as much as we have. It just goes to show that size matters and the importance of having many activists, members and public representatives who can help campaigning.

I believe that this election will see a number of smaller parties being obliterated as South African politics experiences a realignment. Voters are more informed that before and understand what is at stake. So allow me, at thsi stage while I am still very positive to predict the winners and losers as I see it will emerge after 22 April.

Winners:

Democratic Alliance with a growth of between 4% and 6% in growth; with a win in the Western Cape and possibly part of a coalition government in the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

ANC - although with less votes than before will still win the national election.

COPE - although they will fare worse than expectation may come in between 5% and 8% of the vote which is good for a first time party.

Losers:

ID - will loose votes to the DA and COPE.

UDM - will loose votes to COPE.

FF+ - will retain their core fundamentalist voters but will return with less votes (international votes are going to the DA and not the FF+ as they expect).

PAC, AZAPO, APC, PAM - these are all splinter parties - old and new - who fish in the same pond but can't get along which will see the pan-African Azanian movement without representation in parliament due to their fractious support and internal vote splitting

New parties - with the exception of COPE none of the new parties will amass to anything as history has learnt - let's just hope that their collective votes do not cost other opposition parties seats in Parliament.

Retain their support:

IFP - has a core support but may be the surprise package in this election if they succeed to increase their votes in KZN. However, I expect them to retain their current support level.

ACDP - their voter base is a fundamentalist base and usually remains the same.

Well, roll on 22 April so that we can see whether my predictions are a hit or a miss!!!

Keep coming back I will blog at least once a week from now on to share experiences on the campaign trail with you.

Photos: DA manifesto launch in Johannesburg, DA election launch in Kliptown Soweto.

IT IS STILL THE DA VS ANC

There has been a lot of hype in South African politics about the breakaway from the ANC - the Congress of the People (COPE). The promise that it offered to help help break the power of the ANC has however, turned out to be a cracker without a fuse.
The last week we saw the COPE being sued for unpaid printing bills and it losing out totally in by-elections in the Eastern Cape, its supposed heartland. To top it all a new poll was published today that shows COPE to achieve 8% only in the coming elections.
This is very disappointing as we hoped that the COPE would be able to help driving the ANC below its current two thirds majority, unfortunately they seem unable to get going with a proper election campaign in order to compete.
On the other hand the IFP, written off as a has been party, seems to show some promise again in KwaZulu-Natal its traditional power base in taking on the ANC majority in conjunction with the DA.
All of this shows that the major parties in South African politics are still the DA and the ANC competing for the majority of South African votes.
The lesson in all this is that if you want change, you must vote and vote DA!