Parties slam R14m national talk shop

Political parties threatened to pull the plug on a two-day National Assembly imbizo in Bloemfontein in two weeks' time, arguing that the R14-million gathering is an expensive talk shop.

The People's Assembly - a sitting of the National Assembly held outside Cape Town - will be attended by 1400 delegates including 300 MPs and 150 parliamentary support staff.

The main event is at the Seisa Ramabodu stadium in Mangaung where a giant marquee will be erected and members of nearby communities will be invited to air their grievances to ministers, MECs, mayors and councillors.

The last People's Assembly was held three years ago in Mpumalanga.

But the upcoming event has come under fire from all political parties represented in the National Assembly. At a meeting of party chief whips last week, there was a united view that the gathering is a waste of money.

ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga led the charge, arguing that the imbizo would be nothing more than a talk shop and that the money spent on transport, accommodation, food and other arrangements could be better spent elsewhere.

Motshekga, who is overseas, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The chief whips also questioned the number of support staff being sent to Bloemfontein and instructed the event's organising committee to explain the exact role of each parliamentary staff member involved.

"The chief whips feel that this is nothing but a sightseeing trip for parliamentary officials," said an insider who attended the meeting.

DA chief whip Ian Davidson said a common view that emerged at the meeting was that the exercise of taking parliament to the people was fruitless.

"A general feeling around the table was that this is really a huge waste of money because what you are doing is taking an institution which is in Cape Town and transmitting it to Bloemfontein, and then seeing yourself in a situation where people do a lot of talking and complaining ... and then a report is written but nothing happens," he said.

ID chief whip Lance Greyling expressed similar sentiments.

"I think it's a colossal waste of money. I am still very concerned about spending R14-million on such a forum when we have such pressing needs. I am not convinced that these forums benefit the people they intend to, it can do reputational damage to parliament if we do this and there won't be any actual follow-ups," he said.

Freedom Front Plus chief whip Corne Mulder was also up in arms, saying the concept and the content of the gathering did not justify the massive cost.

"I think it's a waste of money," he said.

Deputy National Assembly Speaker Nomaindia Mfeketo, whose office is running the show, conceded that concerns had been raised but described the imbizo as an extension of the sectoral parliaments run by her office.

Asked about the size of the support group, she said the secretary to parliament had been made aware that only staff members who have actual responsibilities should be allowed to travel.

"There shouldn't be support staff that are not of use there," said Mfeketo.

To contain costs, she added, only Free State service providers would be used.

Parliament has advertised a tender for 1500 branded bags, T-shirts, pens, flash drives and folders for the event.

Parliamentary spokesman Luzuko Jacobs said no final decision had been made on the number of support staff who will accompany the MPs.

"There is no decision that has been made for 150 staff to travel to Mangaung. It's a working figure for staff who might be involved," he said, adding that they would use officials based at the Free State provincial legislature.