Chairperson, I move the draft resolution printed in the name of the Chief Whip of the Council on the Order Paper as follows: That the Council, noting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is holding its elections on 30 July 2006, resolves, subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, that -
(1) the South African Parliament send a 30-member multiparty delegation to observe these elections;
(2) the delegation form part of the South African National Observer Mission;
(3) the delegation observes the campaign in the run-up to the elections, the casting of votes and the subsequent counting of the votes;
(4) the delegation complies with the attached Code of Conduct governing parliamentary observer missions;
(5) the delegation complies with the Code and Rules governing the conduct of the National Observer Mission and recognises the overall leadership of that Mission's leader; and
6) the delegation tables for consideration and debate the report of the National Observer Mission to Parliament on its return.
Principles and rules governing observer missions
1. General
(1) Observer missions must be conducted on the basis of the highest standards of impartiality concerning political processes in the host country and must be free from any bilateral or multilateral consideration that could conflict with impartiality.
(2) Observer missions must be conducted with respect for the sovereignty of the host country, including adherence to domestic laws, and with respect for the rights of the people of the country.
(3) Observer missions must not interfere with, obstruct or hamper the processes being observed.
(4) An observer mission must strive to gather information systematically and comprehensively, to analyse the information within the overall context of the event, even if the observer mission focuses on only a sector of the event, and to draw conclusions based on the highest standards of accuracy of information and impartiality of analysis.
(5) Observer missions must submit a report to Parliament or the House that mandated it within a reasonable time, presenting their findings, conclusions and, where appropriate, recommendations they determine could help improve the observed processes.
(6) All statements of the observer Mission to the public or the news media must be authorised by the Mission.
2. Conduct of members
Members of the observer mission must respect the integrity of the mission, including:
(1) following any reasonable written or verbal instructions from the observer mission's leadership;
(2) attending all of the observer mission's required briefings, trainings and debriefings if reasonably possible;
(3) reporting to the leadership of the observer mission any conflicts of interest they may have and any improper behaviour they see conducted by other members of the observer mission;
(4) maintaining strict impartiality at all times, including leisure time in the host country, and not conducting any activity that could be reasonably perceived as favouring or providing partisan gain for any political competitor in the host country, such as wearing or displaying partisan symbols;
(5) maintaining proper personal behaviour and respect towards others, including exhibiting sensitivity for host-country cultures and customs, exercising sound judgment in personal interactions and observing the highest level of professional conduct at all times, including leisure time; and
(6) not making personal comments about the observations or conclusions of the observer mission to the news media or members of the public prior to the observer mission reporting to Parliament or the House that mandated it unless authorised by the observer mission.
3. Violations of the Code
If a member violates this Code the observer mission may, through its leadership, suspend the participation of the member in the observer mission and must in that event report the circumstances to the relevant House.
As there is no speakers' list I shall now put the question. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province's votes. Are you all present in the Chamber?
HON MEMBERS: Yes.
In accordance with Rule 71 I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish. Is there any province that wishes to do so? None. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do so in alphabetic order per province. Delegation heads will have to indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour, against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?
Siyayixhasa. [We support it.]
Free State?
Steun. [Supports.]
Gauteng?
IGauteng iyayisekela. [Gauteng supports it.]
KwaZulu-Natal?
IKwaZulu Natali ithi elethu. [KwaZulu-Natal supports it.]
Limpopo?
Limpopo re a thega. [Limpopo supports it.]
Mpumalanga?
Ya hina. [We support it.]
Northern Cape?
Steun. [Supports.]
North West?
In favour.
Western Cape?
Siyaxhasa, Sihlalo. [We support it, Chairperson.]
Nine provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the motion agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.