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The DA Free State Legislature Caucus is implementing a Post Box to the Legislature (Provincial Parliament) campaign to ensure that the diverse voices of our people of the province are heard.
In the run-up to the 2020 State of the Province Address and Departmental budget debates, it is important that we extend the reach of ordinary people into the Legislature.
While the DA Caucus in the Legislature has a proven track record of effectively representing our people of the province, we want to extend this further.
Between the elections in May to December 2019, the DA asked 86% or 193 of the 224 questions on the Internal Question Paper in the Legislature for a written reply. With a “Free State First” approach our dedicated team in the Free State Legislature, working together with DA provincial and national structures, continues to be the only viable alternative to the ANC-led government as being a principled opposition with sound alternatives.
Some of the most notable initiatives in 2019 included:
- The submission of a Community Policing Bill;
- Making the leading submission to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture around the Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy Project;
- Lobbying to ensure that special committees have been established to interrogate the R108 million Ramkraal Legislature Complex and R350 million Vrede Dairy scandals;
- Carrying out oversight visits to schools, hospitals and clinics, agricultural projects, roads, and various other state-run or sponsored facilities and projects as part of our “see for yourself” approach;
- The DA Caucus Leader in the Legislature won a landmark case of defamation with costs against individuals from the ANC Youth League in 2019; and
- DA members vigorously interrogated MECs, Mayors, Speakers, and Municipal Managers during committee meetings and sittings.
As the Official Opposition in the Legislature, the DA Caucus has a role to play by ensuring oversight and accountability over the Provincial Government regarding issues that affect our people in the province.
Through the Post Box to the Legislature campaign, the DA Caucus will enhance our reach further than previously by ensuring that our people in the province have the opportunity, through their DA representatives, to raise issues and suggestions for improving service delivery and holding the provincial government accountable.
DA caucus members responsible for various portfolios will use these inputs in our interactions with the Provincial Government in the Legislature to ensure that our people’s voices are heard throughout the legislative term.
Where issues are not part of the province’s administrative and political competencies, they will be forwarded to local DA councillors or Members of Parliament for further attention and feedback.
The DA Free State legislature Caucus invites Free Staters to raise issues and make constructive inputs that might assist us to continue to be a constructive opposition that places the Free State First.
Inputs may be emailed to fsl@da.org.za faxed to 051 430 8338 or posted to DA Post Box, P.O. Box 81, Bloemfontein, 9300.