Hon Chairperson, the Committee on Private Members' Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions has rejected my proposed amendments to the Lotteries Act that would have made the Lotteries Act more transparent, equitable and accountable. My proposal was rejected on the basis of impending legislation, yet the Trade and Industry report of 2009 did identify the need to amend the Lotteries Act. It has been four years and we are still waiting. We are looking forward to seeing this Bill, to be introduced later this year in September.
The aim of these amendments was to better regulate the allocation of the National Lotteries Board payouts. The current legislation governing the miscellaneous section remains inadequate as it leaves space for conflicts of interest and inappropriate behaviour within the NLB. What sort of inappropriate behaviour did we want to put a stop to with these amendments? Behaviour like the R40 million paid to the NYDA; hosting an international kissing conference; and paying R1 million to Cosatu as a present for its 25th birthday bash in December 2010. This is money that should go to the NGOs and charities that deliver much-needed services to the poorest of the poor - services that the ANC-led government continuously fails to deliver.
The ANC continues to disregard good private members' legislation, and this will have a negative impact on South African society. We must ask ourselves whether the ANC-led government is, in fact, committed to the improvement of our legislative framework to advance the ideals enshrined in our Constitution. The answer can be found in the annual report of the Auditor- General and in the introduction of the apartheid laws, like the Protection of State Information Bill.
A DA-led government would not allow the payment of millions of rands to go astray. Instead, we would funnel these millions of rands to programmes and initiatives that worked towards the upliftment of our people, the delivery of services and the creation of opportunities for all.
Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Independent Democrats dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.