Address by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi
President of the Inkatha Freedom Party
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National Assembly Cape Town: 12 June 2007 Madam Speaker:I wish to address crucial issues relating to the Presidency, speaking not from a party political viewpoint, or even as the IFP President, but as a South African concerned about our institution of government. Over the past two years, I have expressed my concerns in this House that our constitutional system is being weakened by the attacks and controversies which have undermined the dignity and effectiveness of our Presidency. This is not a party political issue, but it is a matter which should concern every South African as the President is the face of South Africa. The Presidency, as an institution, should represent the entire South African nation and be above reproach, attack and political controversy. Because our Head of State is also our Head of Government, it becomes unavoidable for the entire Presidency to be drawn in, and tarnished by, the mud slinging which often characterises politics and the arduous task of governing a democratic country. No democratic government has been spared a constant stream of attacks. Such cut and thrust is the essence of democracy. But ours is not a consolidated and mature democracy. As we can see, too much vitriol and venom is being splashed on the Presidency in the process than is warranted, all in the name of democracy. Our people need a point of reference which they may respect at all times. What is happening on the streets of South Africa speaks volumes. There are many who feel that they are striking and rebelling against the President, who in fact carry's the final executive responsibility of all actions of our government. On this note, we are all seriously concerned about the impact of the strikes upon the nation. Whilst one recognises that both the strikers and government have a legitimate case, we are all praying that that there will be a meeting of minds. The settlement must be rooted in reality as far as the human needs of civil servants are concerned, but, at the same time, it should not compromise economic stability or, in other words, kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Most of the established democracies in both the eastern and western world are constituted in the form of a parliamentary rather than executive system. In a parliamentary system the President, as the Head of State, rules, but does not govern. The day-to-day activity of government is left to a Prime Minister. Such a similar system prevails in Namibia and Mozambique. The executive presidency was foreign to our South African tradition. Before it was first introduced in 1994, South Africa had a President and a Prime Minister. In a certain sense this tradition continued under President Mandela who used to candidly tell foreign dignitaries and friends alike that he was only the de jure President while the de facto President was then Deputy-President Thabo Mbeki who presided over most Cabinet meetings and conducted most of the business of government. I was in the cabinet and know this to be so. That arrangement created a balancing effect which we all noticed and now miss. Unless we take action now, the crisis in which the Presidency is now engulfed may continue into the future. This is not an issue about the present or future incumbents, but about the office of President. This Parliament has the responsibility of addressing present and foreseeable future problems before our country is damaged further. I do not presume to have any power to lead this Parliament in any direction, but I humbly offer my action as a catalyst which takes the hot potato from the fire for others to eat. This action can no longer be delayed. Acting not just as the President of the IFP, but as one of South Africa's senior leaders, I have tabled today the 17th Constitution Amendment Bill, which is a Private Member Bill, to amend our Constitution to separate the Head of State from the Head of Government so that from the next elections, we may have both a President and a Prime Minister. The details of this separation are not new. This schema has been tried and tested and is in force in the great majority of the democratic constitutions. The President would be exercising a balancing role in the functioning of our institutions and in the dynamics of politics by operating above politics itself. He or she will represent our country both in respect of ceremonial functions and, when the occasion demands, in international affairs. The President will have the power to appoint the Prime Minister subject to parliamentary approval. He or she will also have a significant role in making crucial appointments to offices that ought to be above daily party politics. The Prime Minister will serve at the will of the parliamentary majority. This will make our government more accountable and strengthen the centrality, power and relevance of our Parliament. The Prime Minister will be stronger in carrying out the business of government both on account of the support of Parliament and the President and because he or she will have more time since the ceremonial roles and international relations will be attended to by the President. I speak as a concerned South African. We have no time left. Like many other private member Bills, the Bill I have introduced could lie in the Private Members Committee for two years and lapse at the end of the legislative session. On the other hand, this Parliament has repeatedly adopted important and urgent constitutional amendments in a matter of weeks when it wanted to. We need an urgent national debate on whether South Africa would be better served by a President and Prime Minister rather than by a Presidency which combines both roles. To be relevant, this debate needs to reach its conclusion soon enough to create a path for the ongoing political decisions and processes. I suggest that we all need to step back and look at the problems confronting us from a different perspective. We must not underestimate the growing peril and fomenting social upheaval which I did not need to spell out. We need to show courage which matches the challenges ahead, if we do not wish to be remembered as those who failed to act when we had a chance to do so. Madam Speaker, the IFP supports the Presidency Budget Vote. I thank you. |