Jacques Smalle, MPL, DA Limpopo Provincial Leader, writes:
The DA in Limpopo is concerned that the public will not be afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in the upcoming public hearings to be held by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) on Section 25.
This follows after confusion over the venue for the first public hearing on Wednesday 27 June.
The CRC initially selected Groblersdal in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality. This venue was later changed to Marble Hall in the Ephraim Mogale Municipality. Limpopo has been afforded only four public hearings in our five districts.
There should be no confusion with regard to the date, time and venue in order to enable citizens’ participation in order to ensure oversight and accountability. To date, no times have been assigned to these hearings.
The DA believes that it is critical to understand that effective public participation can improve the capacity of legislators to fulfil their role to build a capable, accountable and responsive state.
This is crucial specifically when amending the Constitution will greatly affect the security of property and effective land reform which places title deeds in the hands of the people. The Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed in King vs. Attorneys Fidelity Fund Board of Control that public participation is central to a participatory democracy.
The DA further reminds legislators about the Constitutional Court’s decision in Land Access Movement South Africa vs. Chairperson of the NCOP where the court found that a law will be set aside if the lawmaker fails to satisfy its obligation to facilitate public involvement in the process of making law.
As the DA in Limpopo, it is our duty to ensure that all citizens in our province are given a reasonable opportunity to participate in this process and that their contributions are reasonably considered.
The DA will write to Vincent Smith, MP and chairperson of the CRC, to request that all dates, times and venues be widely communicated across all media platforms, taking into account that the first hearing is to be held in nine days.
