Chair, subsequent to public hearings on labour broking held on 25 and 26 August 2009, the Portfolio Committee on Labour held its meeting on 1 September to assess the hearings. The committee further discussed allegations made by the DA on 27 August in this House and concluded that such allegations were without facts. Instead, the public hearings were educative to all stakeholders.
The chairperson of the portfolio committee, hon Lumka Yengeni, conducted herself appropriately. The DA is trying to defend exploitation ... [Interjections.]
Order! Hon member, remember that I ruled you out of order on this one. I'm still going to do that at this point.
It was not me, Chair. You said this was not supposed to be in motions without notice. [Interjections.]
Order! Hon member, can you please take your seat!
The hon member will remember that a point of order was raised on the same issue, and I said I was going to rule on it. So, can you please take your seat.
Chairperson, our understanding was that your ruling was for the fact that it was a statement and not a motion. That was our understanding of your ruling.
Order! But this was on the same issue of labour brokers, which we are still going to rule on.
Mr Chairman, on a point of order: We will be quite happy for the ANC to finish their statement if you can let us finish ours first. [Laughter.]
Order! Members, we will make a ruling on this point. So, can we leave it at this point until I make a ruling on it!
Chairperson, on a point of order: As I understand, the two motions are completely unrelated in respect of the matter which you have reserved. The matter you have reserved, Sir, pertains to the issue raised by the hon Surty about the Rules which allow for a substantive motion when somebody wants to disparage a member of this House. The current statement has nothing to do with disparaging anybody in this House. In that regard, it is completely a separate issue to the one you have reserved. You have reserved it for the purpose of deciding whether or not the member's statement actually disparages another Member of Parliament and whether in fact that statement should not be brought in as a substantive motion. It is not about the issue of labour brokers that you are to decide on, Sir. [Applause.]
Order! Thank you, hon member. Let us look further into this point. Can you just give us time to look at it?
Hon members, you will remember that the point of order raised by Minister Surty was a question that had to do with the integrity of one member, the hon Lumka Yengeni. The statement that I was also listening to also puts her name in, but in a way that justifies that she was right. So, I think members should allow me to go back and deal with this matter in a more satisfactory sense. Thank you.