National Assembly chaos was planned, and not by the ANC

THE ANC has made every effort to uphold decorum in the face of extreme provocation. Last Thursday, some time after 11, as the National Assembly descended into well-orchestrated chaos, I found myself anxious and puzzled at a rather strident and unwarranted attack on me.

A male member of the opposition, tall and sturdy, wagged a long finger in my surprised face. “You are a disgrace,” he opined. “Your party is a disgrace.” His finger was almost in my face, his eyes were filled with venom.

A bedraggled colleague of his, breathing hard, sleeves rolled up clearly longing for a fight, joined the fray.

“You are a disgrace, you should be ashamed, your party should be ashamed.”

I could not utter a word, mainly because I was astounded at these beefy gentlemen standing right in front of the desk I occupy and lambasting me. I had not made a single hostile comment or move.

Those who are reporting so sparingly on the events of Thursday have chosen to pretend they have not observed the planned chaos. In fact, some in the media are aware that plans were made and they chortle with glee, pretending the ANC is the initiator, executor and guilty party.

The time has come for honest reflection. It is true that there is an intention to ensure Parliament does not debate policy, that Parliament becomes a site for trying to overturn the outcome of the elections.

The opposition pretends to be the victim, when it is they who are waging an assault on democracy.

They have rendered the assembly dysfunctional. They are reluctant to debate policy with the ANC. They know the ANC has a wealth of ideas and plans to place before the nation. They are afraid of a Parliament with open debate because then the public would have access to reports on the progress the ANC government is making in acting on its manifesto and on the priorities in the NDP.

Thursday was the lowest ebb of a momentum that has been developing for weeks. The DA is severely threatened by the chaos introduced by the EFF. They have decided they cannot beat them so they have joined them instead.

I join other Sou th Africans in wishing that we do not have the police in our democratic chamber, but when it is clear physical harm is impending the responsible officials must protect the institution. The founders of the early precursors of the opposition never wanted the majority to govern in South Africa. The intention to create anarchy in the assembly is the execution of an old ambition that the ANC majority will not be allowed to govern. Surely it is this that is unconstitutional and not the use of our majority.

There is not one incident in the National Assembly that has been caused by the ANC. Our members are there to work for development. They are there to pursue policies that will advance our development goals, not to uselessly attack the Speaker when she rules as she is duty bound to do.

The public should not allow itself to be misled into believing the dishonest analyses and articles on the disruptions in the National Assembly.

Remember the president was shouted down when answering questions.

Now he is accused of not replying when he was prevented from doing so.

We are now told the State of the Nation address will be disrupted. Is this really the sort of democracy we want? Let’s have the address, then debate it.

Let’s hear if there are any policies better than the ANC’s policies. That is democracy.