Make yourself heard - Parliament is in session

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BobJones

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Since Parliament is in session this is a golden opportunity to get your MP to bring up all the issues we talk about here and get some answers.

Here are some of the Parliamentary Committee Meetings happening in the near future:
FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2007

Portfolio Committee on Communications (National Assembly) [Consideration of the State-of-the-Nation Address], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street, 09:00

TUESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2007

Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of Chapter 9 and Associated Institutions (National Assembly) [Bilateral with Independent Communications Authority of South Africa], Committee Room G26, Ground Floor, National Assembly Wing, 10:00

WEDNESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2007
*
Standing Committee on Public Accounts (National Assembly) [Hearing on Audited Financial Statements of the Department of Communications, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa for Financial year 2005/06 & Hearing on Audited Financial Statements of the Department of Sport and Recreation and Boxing SA for Financial year 2005/06], Committee Room V227, Second Floor, Old Assembly Wing, 09:00

TUESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2007

Portfolio Committee on Communications (National Assembly) [Briefing on Budget and Strategic Plan: Vote 27: Department of Communications & Consideration of Budget Vote and Strategic Plan: Nemisa], Committee Room E249, Second Floor, National Assembly Wing, 09:00

TUESDAY, 13 MARCH 2007
*
Portfolio Committee on Communications (National Assembly) [Icasa: Briefing on and Consideration of Budget and Strategic Plan 2006/07], Old Assembly Chamber, Old Assembly Wing, 09:00
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You can get the names and contact details of the MP's on the relevant committees by going to http://www.parliament.gov.za/.
All that is needed then is a short letter explaining your concern and asking them to take it forward.
I suggest keeping it to one issue per letter, with some concrete questions to ask. Information on timelines, action plans, reports on progress etc. would be good. It also helps to personalise the issue. e.g I am struggling to pay my business phone bill, it is 15% of my costs. Its due to ICASA to regulating Telkom prices ineffectively, when can I expect ICASA regulation to improve. i.e if Paris can't do his job, can you fire him?
 
further to the above - the Minister herself will be appearing before the portfolio committee on communications @ 11h00 on Tuesday 20/2

she will be answering queries raised by the PPC with regard to, amongst other things

- LLU
- EASSY

this is open to the public
 
Hi Dominic
I've never been to parliament before... how does one go about attending one of these open sessions?
 
hey texo - if u are facing the main gates of parliament there is a public entrance on your right; you need to have your driver's licence/id/passport and they will give you directions to the room where you want to be

dress is fairly smart (but no need to wear a tie) - it is all pretty relaxed
sandwiches, tea and coffee available
donuts only on special occasions
 
Thanks, Dominic, sounds a lot less intimidating than I imagined. Is there generally a problem with getting in, or are there always a few places free? Do you need to get there extra-early and join a queue?

Sorry for all the questions -- but I really want to see our esteemed minister in action.
 
no prob - i would imagine with the Minister being there and all it will be a little more crowded than usual so may be 30 minutes before...not really major queues...and parliament as a rule runs late (15-30 minutes except where tea is involved)

as for seeing our esteemed minister in action :) - you may want to manage those expectations ;)
 
unashamed *bump*

plan a day out with the wife and kids!!! go to parliament and hear our beloved leader and dynamic speaker Minister Ivy preach to the masses about local unbundling loops and the unattainable imminence of price reductions. Watch in astonishment as new and exciting promises for the future are laid out before the nation. Be gobsmacked with amazement as the principal telkom shareholder goes out to bat for liberalisation and competitiveness.

pls note that there is a special on a combo of kleenex and barfbags @ all participating outlets
 
texo said:
Thanks, Dominic, sounds a lot less intimidating than I imagined. Is there generally a problem with getting in, or are there always a few places free? Do you need to get there extra-early and join a queue?

Sorry for all the questions -- but I really want to see our esteemed minister in action.
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No need to be intimidated in the least- they work for YOU. They are YOUR 'employees'. They should be trying to impress YOU.
 
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blah blah
unfortunately was stuck in the ICASA hearing so could not hear the sinister minister (from chatting to itweb does not seem that there was much exciting)

will post some thoughts later

for now would like to place on the record the fact that i did not have any donuts (although i probably drank all their coffee)
 
ShaunSA said:
I wonder if dominic and texo are enjoying the tea and donuts :)
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Dammit -- couldn't make it today. Really wanted to give a noobs impression of my first visit to parliament to you guys. Next time...
 
Actually, I have to say I'd also be interested to go and see "democracy inaction" :D . If only they could have Parliament in Joburg sometimes.
 
dominic said:
blah blah
unfortunately was stuck in the ICASA hearing so could not hear the sinister minister (from chatting to itweb does not seem that there was much exciting)

will post some thoughts later

for now would like to place on the record the fact that i did not have any donuts (although i probably drank all their coffee)
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Thanks for being there.

Hope the coffee was good. Pity about the donuts tho... maybe Ivy confiscated them all for "testing"? :p :D
 
...some "later" thoughts

the ad hoc committee hearings focussed on ICASA's position in terms of the constitution - i.e. is icasa an independent and autonomous body...as you can imagine this was an extremely "politically sensitive" session but there was clear recognition of the problems with the structures

ic will be happy to know that constitutional amendments with regard to entrenching ICASA's independence are pending - essentially they are waiting for the ad hoc committee to finish its work and then the amendment process will kick in

the committee made the point that the Independent Broadcasting Authority (which is the broadcasting regulator which was combined with SATRA to make ICASA) had a clear constitutional mandate and protection - there was very little ministerial interference and the result was that this was an extremely effective body....the independence and protection for the IBA flowed from the clear recognition that the work of the IBA was all about protecting and promotion the fundamental right of freedom of speech

the committee was of the opinion (agreeing with ic :) ) that, in a converged/converging regulatory environment where broadcasting takes place over telecommunications networks, the regulation of the networks is also a free speech issue which requires explicit protection...

my personal view is
(a) that this goes without saying / it is stating the obvious and the constitutional protection over broadcasting would naturally and automatically extend to telecomms as these systems converge; it is also important to note that the Electronic Communications Act (replacing the Telecomms Act) removes most if not all of the co-regulatory powers of the Minister (e.g. the previous power to veto ICASA regulations) and this is already a significant bolstering of ICASA's "independence"
(b) that it is all too late seeing as how the Minister has already manipulated the councillor selection process as evidenced by the number of former DoC personnel appointed to council

..but having said that it becomes clearer every time the Minister opens her mouth that we need as much protection from her as possible
 
dominic said:
..but having said that it becomes clearer every time the Minister opens her mouth that we need as much protection from her as possible
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Dom maybe a good idea would be to shove a donut into the Minister's mouth every time she opens it :D

Or you could take one for the team :eek:
 
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one could actually prepare a little PR stunt, and go boo Ivy when she speaks, and keep booing and yelling until the nice policemen approach you to escort you outside. Thereafter, assuming the Media come to find out who you are and why you were booing, you hand them your preprinted fact sheets..

One just needs to find out what (if any) offense you could be charged with, for loudly interrupting the Ministers speech. Also, if its a high profile speech, various TV cameras will be there, again, one has a lawyer friend ready to hand, and prepared factoid printouts to hand to the Media..

Thus overshadowing Ivy's speech, with ones own grievances being spread
in the Media..

Methinks SA parliament needs to discover the fun to be had from citizens
voicing their disapproval in a mostly orderly but non violent and disciplined way.
 
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