This article relates to the position adopted by the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's Official opposition in advance of the State President's State of the Nation address on 12 02 2015 #SONA2015 . A comment on the events of the evening and on the DA's and FF's conduct ....shall follow soon..... ( a link will appear here.....follow me on Twitter for update...
The +Democratic Alliance 's position in regard to the State of the Nation address is not only wrong, a dereliction of their duty as opposition but it is also spineless cowardice. I trust that this policy will be reviewed.
http://siegfriedwalther.blogspot.com/2015/02/opposition-mps-must-defend-south.html
The above is my view as an Advocate of the High Court and also someone who voted for the DA, but who may never do so again.
In short, my Opinion above, shows how the President has breached his duty to account to Parliament. He has done this repeatedly. This is in addition to everything else he has done.
Now, when the President ignores his duties to Parliament, he is in fact treating the Voters who vote for it with contempt.
The opposition MP's have a duty to attempt, as best they can, to hold the President to account. Bear in mind that the President has not turned up in Parliament for around six months.
It is a joke to speak of the Dignity of Parliament in the face of such blatant contempt for Parliament by the President and the ruling party.
The President now wants something from Parliament. He wants to address the joint sitting in the State of the Nation address. This cloaks him with the credibility and authority of Parliament.
If the Opposition were to unite against him, the opposite would occur.!
The DA, under present circumstances, has no right, in my name, to remain silent when such a President turns up, solely to enhance his own standing and credibility.
The DA are duty bound to defend the Parliament they were elected to. They cannot remain silent in the face of unprecedented Presidential contempt for Parliament citing the "Dignity" of the occasion. That dignity is long gone.
The DA's argument that the eyes of the world are on us and we cannot allow another "scene." to be viewed by the world media. Utter rubbish. The World knows about our President. A united opposition working together to defend the honour of Parliament will go down far better than having meek subservience in the face of total contempt for Parliament.
And anyway, sometimes one has to do the right thing, no matter how it looks. Those who are looking don't live here. Your voters do! And trust me, we will remember.
The argument that DA won't break the Rules to make a point is also without merit. By demanding that the President Answers the Question before making his speech, the DA would be defending not only the Parliamentary rules, but also Parliament and the Constitution.
Failing to do so is a dereliction of duty which is unforgivable and shameful.
The DA is dead wrong on every single one of the arguments.
At the very least, if the EFF stand up and ask for the President to give an answer to the question they asked in AUGUST last year, and if the President refused to purge his default and contempt of Parliament, then the chant, NO ANSWER NO SPEECHIE should drown out his speech.
The failure to defend Parliament because it might look bad is spineless cowardice. The DA were voted in to stand up and speak. If they fail to do so, I promise I will NEVER vote for them again, and I know, neither will any other.
The President needs something from Parliament tomorrow. A watershed moment in SA Politics has arrived. A President may be forced to by the opposition to respect the institution which elected him. It is a big moment. The DA should not let it go a begging.
There is a time for politics and a time to Stand up on principle and do the right thing. This watershed moment calls for the latter.
I suspect that behind all the DA's inane, bankrupt and unprincipled arguments lies an uncomfortable truth. The EFF have stolen a march on the DA and have set the agenda for a while now. The DA's present view is intended to show its different from the EFF and it occupies the moral high ground. What a miscalculation.
Dereliction of duty, and rubber stamping the Nkandla President's contempt of Parliament is not moral, its not the high ground, and its not wise.
Helen Zille's argument that the DA intends to use the Courts to hold Zuma to account is a bankrupt one.
Firstly, why use only one strategy instead of two. A pincer movement is always preferable. Secondly, the Court approach does nothing to defend the Parliament. The ANC have to learn that they cannot use & abuse Parliament. A united opposition tomorrow will serve notice that Parliament is not to be ignored lightly again. The Court proceedings the DA intends will do nothing to assist this cause. Thirdly, and despite recent DA successes, Court proceedings are long and can be unpredictable.
Play politics later. Unite to defend the Parly now. PLEASE!!
ADV SG WALTHER
#DA
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