Chairperson, it is disturbing that prominent ANC members of this House and the Limpopo legislature have managed to secure state property intended for historically disadvantaged individuals at discounted prices. It has come to the DA's attention that the following MPs and MECs acquired these properties from the Limpopo legislature's Disposal of Redundant Properties project launched in 2000-01.
In this document, which includes the former MEC for Transport and the current MP and chair of a portfolio committee in this House, former MEC for Public Works - Semenya - former MEC for the SAPS - Magadzi - and former ... [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: This point of order touches on similar matters as the previous statement of the DA. This statement once again refers to Members of Parliament and requires a substantive motion. I think this is very clear in terms of what we are dealing with.
Madam Chair, may I address you on this?
Yes, hon member.
Mr Frolick needs to tell us which Members of Parliament are being referred to at the present time. We are referring to former MECs of provinces. There is no reference here to the name of any Member of Parliament. Mr Frolick is now trying to take advantage of his previous point of order. He is wrong on this occasion, Madam Chair.
Order! But if I heard the member very well, she said "the former member who is the chairperson of Transport". Didn't you say that?
No name, Chair. I didn't mention any name. I said "former MEC in the legislature," quite correctly.
Order! Can I get clarity on whether the report is before any committee of this House?
No, Chair. The report is before the legislature's Portfolio Committee on Public Works and not this House.
Order! But my understanding is that if you refer to a former member who was an MEC and who is now a member of this House, you must therefore have a substantive motion. That is my understanding. We know the member who is now the chairperson of Transport in this House.
Chair, I withdraw the statement on the current MP and would like to continue by saying "former MECs in the Limpopo legislature", which I'm allowed to say.
May I please continue, Chair? I'm almost done. [Interjections.]
Order! Hon members, I think whenever we make statements and also when we want to mention people - whether these are former members or not - a report must be made public if those people can't respond for themselves so that everybody will know about the contents of the statement before one makes it. Therefore, hon member, I am not going to allow you to continue with your statement if you insist on referring to former members or members of this House.
Chair, it's fine. I will withdraw the names I have mentioned. This is all over the media today anyway; so it doesn't matter. I will just continue to say "former MECs of the Limpopo legislature".
It is a shocking indictment on the ANC members' concerned. This should not have happened at all. The DA requests that these members return the properties or pay market-related prices determined by an approved evaluator. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Order! Hon member, before you take your seat, I have ruled that you can't refer to former members, particularly when the report has not been dealt with by the legislature or whoever. Even if the report is in the newspapers, this is not a matter that should be debated or presented as a statement in this House. Therefore, I want you to withdraw that statement.
Chair, I have no problem withdrawing the statement. It's in the media anyway. So, I withdraw.
Order! Hon member, I said you must withdraw the statement. Just withdraw the statement, hon member.
I withdraw, Chair. [Applause.]
Thank you. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, may I address you on a point of order?
Order! No, hon member. The member has already withdrawn the statement. [Interjections.]
It's another point of order, Chairperson.
What is the point of order, hon member?
Chairperson, you made a ruling and the member continued in the same vein. I want you please to rule whether that is parliamentary.
Hon member, the member has already withdrawn the statement. Based on that, this will not be a point of order anymore because she has already withdrawn the statement.