Motlanthe-led panel revisits key laws

Problematic laws passed by the South African democratic government since the dawn of democracy in 1994, could soon be repealed or amended if the majority of citizens feel that way.

This was the message delivered in East London yesterday by the country’s former deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, who now chairs an independent “high level panel on the assessment of key legislation and the acceleration of fundamental change”.

The panel, established by the Speakers’ Forum, a structure of parliament and the provincial legislatures, was appointed in January, to assess the effectiveness of key legislation passed in the democratic dispensation.

Yesterday the panel kicked off their countrywide public hearings in East London where more than 2000 people attended to voice their displeasure or support for some of the laws passed since 1994.

Motlanthe said his panel came about after parliament’s legacy report identified the assessment of the impact of legislation as a key priority to be undertaken.

He said the mandate of his panel was to investigate the impact of legislation on four areas namely:

lThe triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality;

lThe creation of and equitable distribution of wealth;

lLand reform, restitution, redistribution and rural development;

lSocial cohesion and nation building.

“It will do this through public consultations across the country and other research processes. The panel will also assess implementation of our laws, identify gaps and propose necessary interventions and recommendations.

“We want people to talk about their experience of these laws. Whether they have made life better and how? Whether there have been problems with applying the laws and what gaps should be filled,” said Motlanthe.

The committee will submit a draft report to parliament on its recommendations by May next year and the final report will be expected around August.

“This panel aims to review legislation, assess implementation, identify gaps and propose necessary interventions that impact on specific areas.

“This will be done with a view to identify laws that require strengthening, review and or amending,” said Motlanthe.

Presenting a report on growth, poverty and inequality in South Africa, Professor Olive Shisana, who is a panel member, said inequality remained a huge challenge as it had not improved between 2001 and 2011 and that the Eastern Cape had shown high levels of “economic vulnerability”.

Shisana said the country was “really suffering and depressed economically”.

During yesterday’s session, various stakeholders made submissions regarding service delivery challenges faced by their communities, nepotism in government institutions, while others raised issues they have with their political parties

One was Siyabulela Manona from the non-governmental organisation Phuhlisani who argued that some of the country’s laws were inherited from the apartheid government and were now not favourable to South Africans as they were designed to accommodate a select few.

The panel will move to the Free State after finishing its Eastern Cape leg.

Motlanthe’s panel consists of highly influential South Africans that include former cabinet minister Bridgett Mabandla, former auditor-general Terence Nombembe, former reserve bank governor Tito Mboweni, and academics such Professor Eddy Maloka, Dr Aninka Classens and Judge Navi Pillay.

Also in attendance yesterday were a group of Bhisho legislature MPLs led by speaker Noxolo Kiviet.

The two-day provincial hearings will be concluded today. — asandan@dispatch.co.za