Geagte Adjunkspeaker, die standpunt van die voorsitter van die Menseregtekommissie, adv Lawrence Mushwana, op 11 November 2011 te Kimberley, dat die Hoofstuk 9-instellings van die Grondwet nie tans 'n ho profiel geniet nie, verdien aandag. Die vraag is of sy stelling waar en korrek is.
Die Hoofstuk 9-instellings is ingestel om grondwetlike demokrasie in Suid- Afrika te versterk. Dit bestaan uit die Openbare Beskermer, die Menseregtekommissie, die Verkiesingskommissie, die Ouditeur-generaal, die Kommissie vir Geslagsgelykheid en die Kommissie vir die Beskerming en Bevordering van die Regte van Kultuuur-, Godsdiens- en Taalgemeenskappe. Die Grondwet sowel as ander wetgewing bepaal die raamwerk waarbinne hierdie instellings hul taak moet verrig. In die finale instansie is dit egter die mense wat in hierdie instellings dien wat aan hulle lewe en die nodige profiel moet gee.
Die VF Plus is van mening dat adv Mushwana se stelling verkeerd is. Niemand in Suid-Afrika is onbewus van die uitstekende werk wat tans deur die Openbare Beskermer, die Ouditeur-generaal en die Verkiesingskommissie gedoen word nie. Adv Thuli Madonsela en haar span maak tans 'n groot sukses van haar werk en sy doen dit met presies dieselfde grondwetlike en ander bepalings wat vir haar voorganger, adv Mushwana, gegeld het. Die lae profiel wat tans bestaan ten opsigte van die Menseregtekommissie sowel as die Kommissie vir die Bevordering van die Regte van Gemeenskappe kan voor niemand anders se deur gel word as die persone wat in daardie instellings dien nie.
Die VF Plus doen 'n beroep op die Nasionale Vergadering om sy oorsigrol in hierdie verband te verskerp, en vra die Minister van Justisie en Staatkundige Ontwikkeling om hierdie saak reg te stel. (Translation of Afikaans member's statement follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER (FF Plus): Hon Deputy Chair, the viewpoint of the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Adv Lawrence Mushwana, expressed on 11 November 2011 in Kimberley, that the Chapter 9 institutions of the Constitution currently do not enjoy a high profile, merits attention. The question is whether his statement is true and correct.
The Chapter 9 Institutions were introduced in order to strengthen constitutional democracy in South Africa. They consist of the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission, the Electoral Commission, the Auditor-General, the Commission for Gender Equality and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. The Constitution, as well as other legislation, determines the framework within which these institutions should operate. However, in the final instance it is the people serving these institutions who should guarantee their existence and the profile required.
The FF Plus is of the opinion that Adv Mushwana's statement is incorrect. Nobody in South Africa is unaware of the excellent work which is presently being done by the Public Protector, the Auditor-General and the Electoral Commission. Adv Thuli Madonsela and her team are at present doing a sterling job and she achieves it by means of the exact same constitutional and other provisions which applied to her predecessor, Adv Mushwana. The low profile that currently prevails with regard to the Human Rights Commission, as well as the Commission for the enhancement of the rights of communities, can only be laid at the door of the persons serving those institutions.
The FF Plus calls upon the National Assembly to intensify its oversight role in this regard, and requests the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to correct this matter.]