Hon members, I'm informed that there has been another count on the Bill; we can therefore go back to it now. It looks as if we had about 230 members instead of 193. [Applause.]
Hon House Chairperson, may I enquire what count you are referring to. You said there's been another count, and at the last count you said there were 193, yes?
The staff has been doing some counting also, just to make sure that we have the exact number. They found that we have 230 instead of 193.
When did they come to this side of the House to do the count?
Hon members, I did say that we will come back to this.
I have no problem, sir, with you coming back to it, but you said there has been a recount.
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order: This House is not run by the DA; it is run by you, Chairperson. Make a ruling and decide. [Interjections.]
What is your point of order, sir?
Chairperson, I think the DA has been pedantic, and I think that it's about time they behaved accordingly as hon members. Honestly, I mean the objection is baseless. [Interjections.]
Hon members, I did say that we will come back to the Bill that once we had a quorum. Now we have ascertained that there was a quorum and we need to go back to it.
House Chair, may I address you, please?
Hon members, I will proceed.
Chair, may I just address you on this matter? [Interjections.]
I said I would come back to it and I am coming back to it. Are there any objections to the Bill being read a second time?
No!
No objections. Agreed to.
Chair, may I address you on this matter? I'm afraid you are confusing ...
We are talking about the debate on the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill.
But, Chairperson, just ... [Interjections.]
Hon members, I am not going to take any more points of order on this because I think you are simply prolonging the debate now.
No, it's not a matter of prolonging it; it's a matter of formalising ...
No, no! You yourselves accepted the Bill; you supported the Bill. You then came back and said that because there is no quorum it cannot be passed, and I agreed with you; that's the Rule.
Now I'm that saying I did say we'll come back to you and you agreed with me. I am saying now that they have counted, and we have a quorum now. Therefore I'm proceeding as I promised to do that. I'm not taking any other points of order. [Interjections.] Please!
Chairperson, but who counted? That's the question, Chairperson. We were never requested to do so. If you want us to do a headcount, we will do it.
I said there has been a count of 230 members, hon member, unless you don't believe me.
Hon Chair, may I ...
I said I'm not taking any other points of order.
No, you must take my point of order; I have the right in terms of the Rules. [Interjections.] Can I please request you to do an electronic count? [Interjections.]
Hon members, are there any objections to the Bill being read a second time?
HON MEMBERS: No!
No objections. Agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
The Bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. [Applause.]
House Chairperson, may I know what the head count in support of the Bill was?
It was ascertaining whether we have a quorum.
Yes, but what was the last count?
The previous count was 193, the last one was 230. [Interjections.]
Two hundred and thirty.