Parliment speaker gags opposition

[mancombseepgood]

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2155976,00.html

Johannesburg - Opposition parties in the Johannesburg city council are furious at the ruling ANC limiting their speaking time to four seconds per councillor.

Parties objecting on Monday included the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Independent Democrats, African Christian Democratic Party, and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania.

In a statement, the parties quoted the ANC's Chief Whip in the council, Bafana Sithole, saying in a rules committee meeting: "If a party cannot say what they want to say in eight seconds it is not worth saying".

The DA's Manny de Freitas said: "This is an unprecedented move. Opposition parties... are united in their resolve to oppose the ANC in its bid to enforce an absurd process to effectively prevent freedom of speech."

This is very poor...

 

[Alan]

*cough* Banana Republic *cough*

 

[ettubrute]

/me thinks they should talk very fast!

 

[mancombseepgood]

He said a report was tabled at a council meeting this month, the effect of which was to gag all opposition parties.

"This has been done under the guise of proportional speaking time in council meetings proportional to parties' numerical representation in the chamber."

.

 

[McSack]

I especially liked this bit

In a statement, the parties quoted the ANC's Chief Whip in the council, Bafana Sithole, saying in a rules committee meeting: "If a party cannot say what they want to say in eight seconds it is not worth saying".

and then in the very same breath just about:

He said the ANC intended to allocate 15 minutes for debate and comment per report tabled in Council....

...opposition parties will collectively have only four minutes to speak while the ANC will have 11 minutes.

Next thing we'll hear is that the opposition didn't properly express themselves when commenting on some dodgy resolutions and never contributed any solutions to problems

 

[BTTB]

Goes to show what a shocking situation Local Government is in.

Those Opposition Councillors are lucky they even got 4 seconds to speak as often in many of the Local Councils controlled by the ANC they don't allow anyone into Council Chambers, public included.

It all flies in the face of the Municipal Systems Act.

 

[bekdik]

strike one for democracy

 

[dominic]

DA & PAC agreeing = major fsckup

 

[NoADSLyet]

Hurry! You have 4 seconds...

What a Joke!

http://www.24.com/news/?p=tsa&i=612296

 

[Telkomisaloser]

The resolution passed by council ensures that opposition parties will collectively have only four minutes to speak while the ANC will have 11 minutes.

Thats totally unfair

 

[kilps]

I don't see why they are making it an issue of freedom of speech - it should be more an issue of fair representation

Each party should get as long as necessary to effectively debate something

 

[Angelface]

This is really a load full of crap.
I remember in the beginnig they jokingly said - now we are a banana republic. I am starting to agree.

 

[Fudzy]

I don't see why they are making it an issue of freedom of speech - it should be more an issue of fair representation

Each party should get as long as necessary to effectively debate something

Absolutely. Atleast it's not in parliament (yet). Then again, if you've ever seen how long the OP's can drag their plights out for the 4 seconds probably comes as some reprieve .

 

[lion_fish]

I will tell you what i wouldsay to the ANC in 4 seconds..."GO F_CK YOURSELF".

 

[lsuacner]

rofl.
You can't even get ANC members quiet in 8 seconds.

 

[mancombseepgood]

More proof that people would rather stick their heads in the sand than believe there is an alternative viewpoint.

 

[Angelface]

Good point.
In any case, the uhm an ahm so much that they would actually need as much time, otherwise they won't be able to say much

 

[TiredOfWaiting]

They don't say much that's worth listening to anyway.

And besides, we need less talk and more action in this country!

 

[Leitmotif]

They don't say much that's worth listening to anyway.

And besides, we need less talk and more action in this country!

Neither do the ANC councillors, but for fsck's sake, others also need their viewpoints expressed.

The ANC fails at taking action. Every. Single. Time. On every issue. So why should they have more time?

 

[schitz011]

It's kind of like the Anti-Mr Smith goes to Washington...

Very sad state of affairs, but surely to god the council can't just sommer make up rules without it being approved and passed by all?

Or am I being too naive?

Someone need to make a stand, just like Mr Smith.