Race to prepare chamber for debate

TEAMS are toiling around the clock to reassemble parts of the National Assembly chamber in time for tomorrow’s special joint sitting of parliament.

Parliament’s presiding officers called the sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

It is scheduled to start at 2pm, which would not have presented a problem except that the assembly chamber is being refurbished.

Yesterday, technicians were reconnecting the sound system. Equipment lay on the floor where members of the council and provincial premiers normally sit during joint sittings.

“It will be ready, it will be ready,” was the terse response to questions about the chamber’s readiness.

ANC chief whip Stone Sizani confirmed yesterday that Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe would be the main ANC speakers.

President Jacob Zuma will not attend the debate.

At this stage, it is unclear whether either of the Mandela family members in the ANC caucus, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Mandla Mandela, will attend the debate.

Sizani said the Mandela family would be represented, but by yesterday afternoon it was unclear who those representatives would be.

Democratic Alliance chief whip Watty Watson said yesterday that the party planned to field both its leader, Helen Zille, and its parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, as speakers. The leaders of smaller opposition parties are also expected to participate.

Liberal stalwart Colin Eglin’s funeral also takes place in Cape Town tomorrow.