Talk is cheap, not in Joburg

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To News Editors
No Embargo
27 June 2007            

Talk is cheap, not in Joburg

The role of the Speaker is to ensure the rules of Council are abided to without fear or favour. This is the international norm.

It is important that minorities have a strong voice in our young democracy. In South Africa, unlike many other democracies, we have Proportional Representation Councillors as well as Ward Councillors. Having elected Proportional Representation Councillors dramatically increases the political diversity in the Council Chamber and enhances debate. It is within this context that the discussion on the time given to Councillors to contribute to the decisions of Council must be seen.

The amount of time allocated to speaking time in the Council chamber has been the subject of long and intense discussion, not only in the City of Johannesburg but also in all democracies, and all parties have their own views on this matter. It is natural in any democracy for political parties to try and maximise the platform they are given, and it would be surprising if this were not the case. At present the allocation of time for councillors is reasonably reflective of the votes the political parties received at the ballot box, with marginal additional allowances made to minority parties.

The actual allocation of speaking time in a Council Meeting is reached by consensus by the Whips of the various parties, and in the majority of cases this is not a problem, as there is normally consensus on the items before council. The time allocated to speakers only becomes a challenge in the minority of cases when everyone has an opinion that is when the rules become important.

The real critical evaluation of policies and reports is made at Portfolio Committee Meetings before matters go to a Council meeting. The Portfolio Committees are where oversight and scrutiny of the business of the Executive and Administration takes place. The Portfolio Committees are inclusive and there are no time constraints on Councillors in the debates of the issues. Normally consensus is reached in the Portfolio Committee meeting prior to the issue being tabled at a Council meeting.

Council simply could not do its business if the Portfolio Committees did not exist to ensure that Councillors have the opportunity to have their say, as individuals and representatives of their respective political parties.

The present policy is a trial one for a period of six months and it will then be re-evaluated.

Most democracies try and ensure that the voices in the Council Chamber are reflective of the votes in the ballot box that is presently the case in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipal Council.       

Ends

For more information contact Keith Peacock Director in the Office of the Speaker 011 407 7585.

Issued on behalf of Councillor Nkele Ntingane
Speaker of Council

By

Virgil James
Communications Specialist
City of Joburg
011 407 7226
082 467 9415