COURT CLASH The ConCourt YES vote campaign is collapsing in spectacular fashion

I recently had the opportunity to attend a presentation by the Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Onnetse Ramogapi, at Sefhare Kgotla on the proposed Constitutional Court (ConCourt). The meeting was attended by residents of Sefhare and neighbouring villages, including Mokobeng, Chadibe and Borotsi. If the mood and reactions at that gathering are anything to go by, the ConCourt proposal was rejected unequivocally.

The Minister’s assertion that he was merely consulting the public was, at best, economical with the truth. What unfolded at Sefhare Kgotla was clearly a campaign for a YES vote.

The ConCourt Bill has already passed through all the critical legislative stages. It was tabled for First Reading and subsequently referred to Ntlo ya Dikgosi, which deliberated on the Bill and rejected it. Labour federations, civil society organisations and religious bodies also expressed firm opposition.

Thereafter, the Bill was returned to the National Assembly for Second Reading. On that day, only Honourable Unity Dow and Honourable Pius Mokgware debated the Bill. The Speaker adjourned the debate upon realising that the UDC MPs were not ready.

When the Bill later returned for continuation of the debate, the opposition boycotted the session. The President then took the floor and delivered a lengthy and tedious lecture on constitutional law. None of the UDC MPs rose to debate the Bill. It was rushed through the Second and Third Readings. In terms of content, therefore, the Bill is complete.

In accordance with constitutional provisions, the Bill is now in a three-month cooling-off period. After this period, it will return to Parliament for a final vote before being taken to a national referendum for a YES or NO vote. A two-thirds majority is required for the Bill to proceed. No amendments will be permitted after the referendum.

It is against this backdrop that the so-called ministerial “consultations” must be understood. They are a farce, an afterthought and a wasteful expenditure of public funds aimed solely at campaigning for a YES vote.

#SayNoToConCourt