Ryder thanks the voters

SEDIBENG.- At the outset I would like to thank the voters for coming out on election day in support of the Democratic Alliance (DA).

It is only through their support that I return to office, and I do not take the responsibility and honour lightly.  The voters of Emfuleni and Midvaal showed a big increase in support for the DA and this places a burden those of us who have been elected. Following the rigorous selection process I was lucky enough to be in a position to choose whether I wanted to serve in the Provincial Legislature, National Assembly or the National Council of Provinces.

Over the past 5 years I have consistently been recognised as one of the top 6 performing Members of Parliament in terms of Committee Meeting attendance, and this certainly helped me through the process. I chose to return to the National Council of Provinces, which has surprised many colleagues and observers as it has the lower profile of the two houses of Parliament.

Having already spent 5 years in the NCOP, I did this with a specific vision, as the NCOP gives one a unique position to drive both Local and National issues. I believe that the NCOP is not well understood and, having built up a sound understanding of the processes felt that returning would position me well to elevate the role of the NCOP from rubber-stamping house to a House of proper Senatorial scrutiny of National Legislation as well as that of a conduit for Provinces to engage with Parliament on the impacts of legislation on their operations.

I look forward to representing the people of Gauteng and I urge all the readers to monitor my work using www.pmg.org.za and engage me where they can contribute ideas.

• Dennis Ryder (CEBP SA) is a Member of Parliament – National Council of Provinces (Gauteng – Democratic Alliance), This is his Opinion Piece. He is also on the the below committees:
• Select Committee on Finance
• Select Committee on Appropriations
• Joint Standing Committee on Defense