OPINIONISTA: Beware of wobbly legislative pillars aimed at constructing electoral majorities By Susan Booysen BooysenS2
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.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
#ConsumerColumn: Beware of fraudulent driving schools taking clients for a ride | The StarConsumerWatch: Beware of fraudulent driving schools taking clients for a ride TheStar_news
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Comrade President Matamela, please don’t forget where you come fromPlease, Comrade Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, bring back the lost hope. Assure the working class that they are safe under your leadership.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: All courts, including the highest, must be subject to careful public scrutinyWe should demand of the highest court that its reasoning is impeccable and relentless. Sadly this is not always the case.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Another Industrial Revolution: What schools need to knowThe Fourth Industrial Revolution questions what it means to be human in the 21st century. It is a question that demands a firm response not just from economists and business leaders, but also from schools and education authorities. Students in schools right now will graduate in the midst of 4IR and they need to be prepared.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Democratic Alliance governance in shamblesOne of the unintended consequences of the outcomes of the 2016 local government elections has been the debunking of the myth (lie) that the Democratic Alliance is innately more competent and clean than the African National Congress when it comes to issues of governance.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Smoke and mirrors – and no one is tackling grand corruptionThe weekend announcement by the Presidency that it is planning to set up an eight-judge special tribunal to expedite civil debt collections instigated by his custom-made SIU investigations is further evidence of ANC unwillingness to get to grips properly, efficiently and effectively, with grand corruption.
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Could a land value tax work in South Africa?Another Budget, another rise in taxes. Despite some tax relief in recent years, South Africa’s tax burden remains among the highest in the world. Could there be a fairer, more effective, simpler and less harmful way to raise the revenue the government needs to survive?
Read more »
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).
Read more »