The National Assembly will decide on Wednesday whether to establish a parliamentary inquiry investigating the impact of extortion with specific focus on the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The EFF submitted the motion to establish an ad hoc committee to look into the matter.
However, there was disagreement on an amendment made by the DA to the draft motion.
In his draft motion, EFF leader Julius Malema proposed that an ad hoc committee be established to conduct public hearings to get views on measures to be taken to eradicate extortion.
Malema said the ad hoc committee should come up with recommendations on the necessary policy and legislative interventions, including oversight mechanisms for Parliament to oversee the implementation of interventions by the government.
DA deputy chief whip Baxolile Nodada asked that the resolution be amended to give the mandate to the portfolio committee on police.
House chairperson Cedric Frolick said the amendment fell within the parliamentary rules as it did not extend the scope of the original draft resolution.
EFF MP Mbuyiseli Ndlozi disagreed, saying the amendment changed the motion fundamentally by shifting the matter from the ad hoc committee to the portfolio committee.
“The wisdom of the regime of an ad hoc is in instances where we elevate a matter to be dealt with on its own merits. The proposal can’t stand in the House. It is a fundamental amendment of the motion and it should be taken back where it came from,” Ndlozi said.
During declarations by parties, Nodada said portfolio committees were established to play oversight roles on issues and they should be effective when doing so.
He said the responsibility of the portfolio committee in driving and holding those accountable and making necessary interventions could not be taken away.
MK Party’s Mzwanele Manyi said the amendment defied the objective of what the draft resolution sought to bring to focus.
He said extortion was ravaging the country and it was absurd to want to dilute the matter into a myriad activities of the portfolio committee.
“We don’t want general dealer stuff,” Manyi said, in reference to the portfolio committee having to deal with broad issues.
Malema said extortion was a crisis in the country and Parliament has a duty to investigate it.
“It would be irresponsible for anyone to say the matter must be referred to the portfolio committee when we know how busy that committee is.
“We want a focused ad hoc committee that will deal with this matter.
We plead with political parties to put their colours aside,” Malema said.
The IFP along with Government of National Unity partners, the ANC, the Patriotic Alliance, ActionSA, Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah and the ACDP were in support of the portfolio committee handling the extortion investigation, while other parties such as the ATM, National Coloured Congress and Build One South Africa were backing the ad hoc committee.
Frolick said parties should use forums such as the chief whip’s forum to talk to one another.
“It is my inclination that I will allow the decision on the amendment to stand over to allow proper consultations between political parties. We will bring it tomorrow immediately after the question session,” Frolick said.
Cape Times