Note to editors: Find attached soundbites in English and Setswana by Winston Rabotapi, DA North West Caucus Leader in the Provincial Legislature.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West Province has recently raised their doubts and questioned the legitimacy surrounding Premier Mokgoro’s authority to deliver the State of the Province Address (SOPA) tomorrow, 21 February 2020.
This followed after former Chief Whip in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Raymond Elisha, expressed similar concerns during a strategic planning session from 3 – 7 February.
As the facilitator appointed by the Speaker, Mr. Elisha pointed out that the Office of the Premier is under administration in terms of Section 100(1)(b), which effectively strips him of his executive powers. A heated debate was sparked, causing some Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) to also question the Premier’s authority to deliver the SOPA.
Subsequently, this casts doubt on the legitimacy of the ten MECs whose departments are also under administration, to deliver their budget speeches in the coming weeks.
We regard this matter in a serious light and therefore wrote a letter to the Speaker of the NWPL, Sussana Dantjie, expressing our concerns.
The Speaker undertook to have a formal discussion with us but failed to do so. Instead, her office released a media statement last night confirming her satisfaction with the preparation for the official opening of the NWPL.
It is not clear whether the Speaker sought legal advice and if so, it casts further aspersions on the integrity of the former North West MPL who took a particular position to advance a certain political faction.
We call on the Speaker to bring a halt to the arrogant and biased behaviour displayed in this matter and respect the actuality of a multiparty government.