Speaker, I want to say to the hon Ross, or maybe to the DA: You seem to be conflating the oversight mechanism with operational management.
The purpose of the oversight mechanism is not to interfere in the management of Parliament's finances. Your proposal to make the accounting officer accountable to the oversight mechanism conflates, if not deliberately muddles, the responsibility.
As the ANC, I must indicate that we are champions of accountability and transparency. [Interjections.] We have done it in the past and we will continue to do it throughout our existence. [Interjections.]
We would not support this Bill if it were not going to ensure that the noble principles of transparency and accountability are promoted.
I urge you to move out of your closet and learn from the best. Your baseless fear and vigilance is comprehensible. By the way, you are still recovering from a bruising autocratic practice. Without any knowledge of most of the DA members, you recently woke up to the reality of a rented leader.
You are the last people to tell us about transparency and openness. Stop throwing stones when you are living in a glass house.
To allay your fears, the ANC has led the discussion on openness and transparency in the Bill. We have strongly recommended that this be strengthened in the Joint Rules of Parliament. We have negated any possibility of a conflict of interest by any member of the oversight mechanism. Hence, as the ANC, we wholeheartedly throw our weight behind the Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]
Bill read a second time (Democratic Alliance dissenting).