GNU changes political playing field
The ANC’s majority government of 30 years came to an end with the outcome of the recent general elections.
Seeing as support for the ANC dropped to 40%, the ruling party was compelled to approach other political parties to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) to govern the country.
Forming the GNU was no easy feat and it drastically changed the political playing field.
The FF Plus’s decision to be part of the GNU paves the way for executing its election mantra of restoring and rebuilding South Africa for everyone’s benefit.
After all, the only way to save South Africa is to get in the game yourself and not criticise from the sidelines.
Although no-one is naive enough to believe that the ANC changed its ways overnight, it will most probably think twice before imposing its own agenda and trite ideologies on South Africa.
Financial markets have clearly responded positively to the GNU in South Africa and it is obvious that investors are once again keen to invest in the country’s economy.
If the ANC derails the GNU, it will cause immeasurable damage to the country – and to itself.
The South African ship which was obviously running on the rocks shortly before the elections now has a chance to slowly but surely turn itself around and head back to safer waters.
Oom Pieter is watching you
The appointment of Dr Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, as the Minister of Correctional Services caught many corrupt officials and even hardened criminals off guard.
Oom Pieter, as the media dubbed him, wasted no time and came down hard on the Zimbabwean inmate in the Goodwood prison who had been bragging about his good life behind bars on TikTok.
Prison should serve as a deterrent from returning to a life of crime by denying inmates some of the benefits enjoyed by citizens at large. No prisoner has the right to five-star treatment paid for by taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
That is why one of Dr Groenewald’s first statements was that prisons should become less dependent on tax money by, among other things, producing their own vegetables, where possible, and getting workshops, which could generate income, up and running again.
In addition to providing a financial injection for prisons, it will also serve to equip criminals with the skills they need to successfully reintegrate into society.
The FF Plus watchdog gets more teeth
After the establishment of the GNU as well as Governments of Provincial Unity (GPUs) in certain provinces, the FF Plus got more teeth as watchdog with the appointment of MPs and MPLs as committee chairs.
In Parliament, Wouter Wessels was appointed chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General (AG).
The Committee’s powers and functions are conferred in terms of the Public Audit Act and it is tasked with overseeing the AG.
This includes reviewing the AG’s strategic plan, budget and annual report. Its other main task is to protect and support the AG. In other words, the Committee is responsible for addressing any problems keeping the AG from fulfilling its constitutional role.
The FF Plus is also filling several Provincial Legislature committee chair positions.
In the Northern Cape Legislature, Theo Joubert was appointed chairperson of the Committee on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.
This Committee oversees all the municipalities in the Northern Cape.
In the North West Provincial Legislature, Michal Groenewald was appointed chairperson of the Standing Committee on Legislature Oversight
The Standing Committee oversees the functioning of the Legislature, the respective portfolio committees as well as the Speaker and the Office of the Speaker.
Armand Cloete was appointed chairperson of the new Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, the Office of the Premier and Community Safety in the Free State Legislature.
This Portfolio Committee exercises oversight over the Department of Cooperative Governance, which is responsible for municipalities, the Office of the Premier and the Free State Police Secretariat to ensure that they execute their mandates.
The FF Plus will use these chair positions to help restore and rebuild dysfunctional municipalities to provide optimal service delivery to residents.
Ensuring rural safety through effective policing is another top priority for Cloete.
In Gauteng, the FF Plus obtained two offices of chairmanship.
Adv Anton Alberts, the party’s national chairperson and MPL in Gauteng, serves as the chairperson of the Economic Development Committee while Jaco Mulder (MPL) serves as the chairperson of the Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs Committee.
Both the Economic Development Committee and the Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs Committee play a pivotal role in promoting economic growth and job creation in Gauteng.
The chairs of the two committees also have quite a bit of clout when it comes to holding the Gauteng government accountable, and they hold sway over its policy and the implementation thereof.
The powers of the FF Plus chairpersons in these two committees are significant seeing as they are able to determine the programme, agendas and strategic focus points.
Chairpersons can also arrange oversight visits to any provincial government departments, entities and projects, and can launch in-depth investigations. Moreover, chairpersons have the power to call the premier and relevant MECs to appear before the committee to report on relevant governmental affairs and answer questions.
The chairpersons can even instruct their committees to compile draft legislation to table to the provincial government and create provincial legislation to be submitted to the Legislature.
