Speaker, today is a day to celebrate democracy. It is a day to recognise how democracy has enhanced the lives of citizens around the world who are fortunate enough to live in democratic countries. It is also a time to show solidarity with those people in the world who are still fighting, sometimes in tremendous adversity, to instil democracy in their own countries.
In South Africa we can take pride in the birth of our own democracy 16 years ago and the freedom from the racial oppression that it brought about. As we do that, we need to ask ourselves some serious questions about the current state of our democracy and the challenges that it currently faces.
Although the structure of our democracy is in place, it risks being hollowed out through the gradual closing down of spaces in which true democratic debate can take place.
The Protection of Information Bill and the proposed media tribunal are just two examples in which transparency and free expression are being threatened by the ANC. Parliament, as the ultimate expression of our democracy, also needs to be reformed in line with the recommendations put forward by the Independent Review Panel.
In addition, the influence of money continues to eat away at our democratic structures as conflicts of interests regarding Ministers, and even the ruling party itself, make a mockery of good governance principles.
If we were serious about strengthening our democracy, then we would use this day to commit to finally putting in place the long overdue legislation to regulate the private funding of political parties. It is what our democracy and the voters deserve. Thank you. [Applause.]