Constitution was violated

First, we address the pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) fiasco in parliament.
The jamming of the cellular signal and the independent broadcaster eNCA contravenes ICASA regulations. It is a threat to freedom of speech. Also, why is the SABC instructed not to show footages of the DA’s walk-out or the removal of the EFF’s MPs, and why did the SABC not allow independent commentators on air during the SONA?
Furthermore, the Speaker violated the SA Constitution by allowing armed SAPS officers into parliament chambers to remove MPs. Although these matters are being investigated, many suspect that the ANC is solely responsible. If this is the truth, it would mean that the ruling party itself has become a serious threat to democracy, and is no less tyrannical than the past apartheid government that it unseated.
On a positive note though, the ACDP is glad that government is reviewing the visa regulations so as to strike a balance between national security and growth in tourism. It is also good news for the nation that government is going all out to generate greater electrical energy for SA in the near future. Let’s hope the president keeps his thumb on Eskom.
Our concerns arising from SONA: Foreign nationals will not be allowed to own land in SA; they will only be eligible for long term leases. We are concerned about how this will affect foreign nationals already owning property in SA, including international corporations that own vast industrial property.
We also felt that the conviction rate/stats given by the president are deplorable considering the high crime rate in this nation. Furthermore we feel that the illegal public gathering stats given by the president and SAPS are staggeringly high. We are concerned about the knock-on effect unnecessary strikes have on our economy.
We believe, however, that SONA failed to address certain pertinent issues. The first is why over 90% of municipalities in SA did not receive clean audits. Let’s hope the Back to Basics Programme being rolled will curb this fiscal pandemic. The second is the problems in education and schools, especially in the light of the 2014 textbooks saga. The president should have assured schools of a hiccup-free year. Finally SONA could have highlighted government’s turn-around strategy for the poor performance of the Rand; something by which all South Africans are affected.
CLLR NEL SEWRAJ (ACDP)
KwaDukuza