The KZN legislature, has enforced a rule barring members from using technological devices to read their speeches.
|||Durban - Times may be changing, but not at the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, which has enforced a rule barring members from using technological devices to read their speeches or put forward motions.
On Friday, DA MPL George Mari’s tabling of a motion on the Cornubia housing development was cut short by deputy speaker Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, who cited parliamentary rules banning the use of technological devices.
This is despite the fact that members of the legislature are each issued with a laptop, a cellphone and a tablet to help in the execution of their duties.
Mthimkhulu quoted rule 47 (3) which states: “Conduct of members: A member may not use electronic equipment that disturbs the proceedings of the house.”
He pointed out that cellphones had been known to disrupt the recording system at the legislature and that the recording could be distorted if a cellphone rang.
“Coincidentally, when it was brought to my attention that honourable Mari was using a cellphone I had just warned members of the house and the people seated at the public gallery that the use of cellphones during proceedings was not allowed,” Mthimkhulu told the Daily News on Monday.
“I therefore instructed him (Mari) not to continue with his motion as this had the potential to disrupt the proceedings.”
Mthimkhulu said he had stopped Mari’s motion after it was brought to his attention - through a point of order - that he was reading from his cellphone.
But the DA is crying foul, saying it appeared there was a different set of rules for DA members as other members were allowed to read their speeches from laptops and iPads.
Mthimkhulu said: “If there have been other members who have used these devices to read their speeches this has never been brought to our attention before.
“It is difficult when you are sitting up there as a presiding officer to tell whether a member is reading from a paper or from these devices.”
Mthimkhulu, in barring the use of cellphones to table motions, pointed to another rule in the legislature’s rule book. Rule 94 (2) reads: “When giving a notice of motion a member must: (a) read it aloud and deliver at the table a signed copy of the motion… (b) or deliver to the secretary a signed copy of notice on any working day to the legislature.”
He said it would have been impossible for Mari to sign and deliver the motion when it had been read from a cellphone.
Mthimkhulu said he was not against the rules being amended.
“I had to apply them as they stand,” he said.
“If there is a need to amend them they will need to go through the rules committee. I cannot singlehandedly amend the rules”.
DA whip Radley Keys, who felt that the deputy speaker had made a mountain out of a molehill, said his party would be challenging Mthimkhulu’s ruling.
Keys said that because Mari’s cellphone was on silent mode, it could not have interfered with the recordings.
He said the second part of rule 94 (2) meant that the motion could have been submitted at the next sitting or any other day before then.
“This would have given Mari time to get it printed out and signed.”
bheki.mbanjwa@inl.co.za
Daily News