Chairperson, firstly, let's start with this, even if we've spent six months on the Appropriations Bill, the DA still would not have voted on it, actually, that's fact. They didn't do it in the last year, they didn't do it in the year before and there was no process that was truncated or reduced. So, it's disingenuous to suggest that they are not voting for this Bill simply because of the special circumstances.
Now, Mr Ryder reduces his own argument to this disingenuity because he acknowledges the committee report said that we as a whole, including the EFF and the ANC, the EFF was not there, Freedom Front Plus, we all agreed that these are special circumstances, like in any democracy in the world, it was election time. The space and time was eroded, Parliament had to rise on 28 March if I'm correct. So, these circumstances reduce the prospects of us paying considered attention and concerted attention to the Bill. We agree, but there's no other choice.
What we did plead for in our report is that in future, Chief Whip, Deputy Chairperson, when the government decides on the elections, it should also take into account that you have to vote on the budget before the end of July. So, maybe we should have the elections, as
we have done before, earlier in April, middle of April. We've asked you to think about that, chairperson.
Secondly, what we in fact did, thanks to our very effective Chairperson of the Appropriations Committee, she conferred Sifiso Mahlangu on the other side, Mr Sifiso Mahlangu, Mr Sifiso Buthelezi sorry.
And of course, we had Joint Sittings all the time with them, but the decisions that we finally took were our own, the NCOP is not subordinate to the NA, it is not here to rubber stamp it. In fact, it's the ANC that keeps saying that ... and I've raised this on behalf of our committee, the finance committee with the Chief Whip of the NCOP that we should have a debate here that doesn't actually substitute or duplicate what the NA does. Our focus should be more on provinces and local government, and he has said yes to it. And no doubt when we have our strategy discussion, when we come back in the first week, that will rise. Our committees have taken a decision, he, Mr Ryder, supported it, right?
On the issue of the absence of the Minister and the Deputy Minister, we've already agreed that they should be here. Here sitting in the official component of the NA right now is Sindi August, a very
effective parliamentary leader of [Inaudible.] she will communicate to the Minister and the Deputy Minister the unhappiness of the House, that at least one of them surely should have been here. And House Chair, I plead with you, Deputy Chairperson, that in future you ensure that it happens and so does the Chief Whip of the NCOP. Surely one of them could have been here, we are agreeing on that, I don't know why he's bleating on about it, we've agreed on that earlier.
Then on the issue of a colleague of his he's raising this morning, in a very cowardly way to say, yes, of course, when I was the Minister of Communications the SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, state capture occurred. Maybe he wants to Google Carrim. Koos Bekker, his friend, MultiChoice and the decision about Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and Google it and see, maybe he can then conclude why I wasn't reappointed. Do I care? No. I went for five years to the NA and I'm here right now. I didn't run away. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
And what has the Freedom Front said? Nothing. I don't think hon Fanie Du Toit knows what to say. I'm just saying, Mr Fanie Du Toit, with due respect, you said nothing. You simply said monies have been allocated to the wrong votes. What votes? Why precisely? No answer.
So, it would be better if you didn't speak. Thank you. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.
The Council adjourned at 20:49. -----------------------