Speaker Didiza urged to reject sponsored offer of food, alcohol for MPs after SONA
While it's unclear who has offered to cater at this year’s event, several political parties who attended Thursday's programme committee meeting were adamant that the offer should be rejected, in particular, the alcohol.
FILE: NCOP chair Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane (left), National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza (right) at a media briefing on the readiness for the Opening of Parliament Address. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Several political parties want National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to reject a sponsored offer of food and alcohol for parliamentarians after next week’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
They say Parliament should not run the risk of MPs turning up drunk to the occasion.
Parliament has not held a post-SONA dinner since 2017 when former Speaker Baleka Mbete came under fire for hosting one in her private capacity.
Once a regular feature of the State of the Nation Address, Parliament canned its lavish dinners in the sixth administration in an effort to cut costs.
While it's unclear who has offered to cater at this year’s event, several political parties who attended Thursday's programme committee meeting were adamant that the offer should be rejected, in particular, the alcohol.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi said it will be an affront to those going hungry.
"We don't want food donated to members of Parliament, and we don’t want alcohol. That’s unethical. Members of Parliament would be drunk."
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)'s Steve Swart said that while sponsored dinners were not unusual in the past, he also had concerns.
"We don’t want to have the situation where alcohol is abused in any way and there could be disruptions."
The African Transformation Movement (ATM)'s Vuyo Zungula said that MPs could afford to feed themselves and offers of alcohol should be turned down.
African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, however, said that he was satisfied that the donors don't have business links to Parliament and that MPs could keep themselves in check.
"We have confidence that there are no responsible members of Parliament who can decide to get drunk on the basis that there’s free alcohol."
Speaker Thoko Didiza has explained that the catering is not meant to be a show of extravagance but only to offer MPs and their guests something to eat at the end of the evening sitting.
She said this would be served in a marquee across from the City Hall where President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the address.