Parliament’s legislative squeeze is on. In the past week, parliamentarians and President Cyril Ramaphosa concurred on the dissolution of Parliament. There is now a tight window for the fifth democratic Parliament – until 20 March – to push through a last few pieces of legislation. The offerings of the last five years need to be supplemented.
A handful of important pieces of legislation — some heavily flawed, but bearers of good intent nevertheless — have been delivered since the start of the “new regime” days of early 2018. Others are waiting in the wings. Rushing them through Parliament in these dying moments could graceSome poorly considered bills would do well if reserved for sober post-electoral consideration by a new parliament. A few examples illustrate this story.
Parliament’s legislative deliveries in the past few months have already begun to serve several other critical ANC constituencies. Workers and labour are obvious core constituencies as well. The National Minimum Wage Act came into effect on 1 January 2019. Subject to much criticism for sanctioning standardised low levels of remuneration, it improves nevertheless the wages of the lowest of low wage-earners. It also promotes collective bargaining. It is a small, but notable offering against the backdrop of crisis-level unemployment, on which Parliament has yet to show leadership.
New legislation is not forthcoming to show that the ANC in Parliament is on point when it comes to leading on crime. Besides, legislative initiatives would lack credibility entirely in a context where implementation of good intentions lack and systemic corruption rules. Instead of legislation, the ANC relies on television news broadcasts of police operations that yield minor community-based successes.
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OPINIONISTA: Hate speech Bill could be used to silence free speechThe National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services is currently processing the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. While the Bill has laudable aims, the sections of the draft Bill dealing with hate speech is not without its problems. The fear is that in its current form the Bill might well be used by those with economic, social or political power to silence their critics and to end difficult discussions about race, gender and sexuality (among other things).
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