Report of Powers & Privileges Committee on Hearing into allegations of conduct constituting contempt of Parliament by members of the National Assembly - 27 November 2014

Cheryllyn Dudley MP, ACDP

The Rules of Parliament are rules agreed by Members of Parliament – they have a purpose and that is to keep a degree of order to ensure the work of Parliament can be done – what we have witnessed in the last week – and months before that - is a display of just how easily the work of Parliament can be sabotaged and frustrated when members have a mind to do so.  It is a shame that the rules of the House have been so brazenly disrespected and disregarded in front of the entire nation and the world – and the unruly and threatening behaviour that occurred on 21 August is indefensible in our view. 

The ACDP has carefully read the committee’s report and the charges are indeed serious.  For this reason we would have supported a recommendation outlining serious measures to ensure that consequences are no laughing matter and that they are a real deterrent for not only these members but others who want to manipulate parliament in this way. Having said that, these members are first time offenders, and in certain instances have had the maximum sentence imposed upon them. This is very unusual in the case of first time offenders. The sentences imposed, in our opinion, should have been suspended to give the honourable members of the EFF a second but final chance – an opportunity to learn from the experience – along with the rest of us.

The ACDP is also of the opinion that due process was not meticulously followed when one considers that The main complainant, the Speaker, did not give evidence; that there is a perception of bias on the side of the ruling party, given that on a number of charges, the opposition members present either did not feel that the evidence justified a finding of guilty, or that the sanction imposed was too severe; and while the EFF members chose not to participate in the process, evidence in mitigation of sentence, led by other members could and should have been allowed. 

For these reasons the ACDP will not be supporting this report and we strongly recommend that the disciplinary hearings are re-held to correct errors in process and that a suspension of the severe sanctions be considered.  

Ultimately, unless a political solution is found and parties choose to hold themselves to a higher standard, the current situation in Parliament will continue to deteriorate.

The ACDP holds the view that the present situation in the National Assembly in Parliament is disruptive and counter-productive – and cannot be condoned.  All parties must take responsibility in order to ensure that the institution of parliament functions optimally and is not brought into disrepute.  

The ACDP welcomed the efforts of the Deputy President to initiate a process to this end and we regret that some parties failed to keep to the terms and spirit of their own agreement.  If the agreement had held, the disciplinary hearing against members of the EFF would have been put on hold while party leaders and the deputy president worked together to find a workable and sustainable way forward.  One which did not unnecessarily diminish freedom of expression in the National Assembly but at the same time protected the right of all members to non-violently and respectfully hold the President and the Executive to account.  

Timely access to antenatal care could prevent the deaths of hundreds of women and girls in South Africa during and after pregnancy

MEDIA RELEASE
Cheryllyn Dudley MP


ACDP SAYS culture of abortion encourages young women to think of a fetus as tissue that can be discarded at anytime - making it less likely they will be conscious of the need to take care of the baby during pregnancy.

Responding to a report by Amnesty International ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said: "Because of a culture of abortion - young women who are told an embryo is just a lump  of tissue that can be discarded at anytime - are less likely to grasp the need to take care of themselves and the baby during pregnancy - especially the early stages."

The report found that the majority of maternal deaths in the country were avoidable, and said the main problems were late and infrequent antenatal care and the fact that nearly one third of pregnant women are living with HIV.

Delays in going to clinics until the later stages of pregnancy could have grave consequences for pregnant women and girls, especially those with HIV, the human rights group said.

South Africa's maternal mortality rate has risen dramatically since 2000 and currently stands at 269 deaths per 100 000 live births, far higher than the rate of 38 which the government committed itself to achieving by 2015.

"It is disturbing to note that women and girls in South Africa apparently told Amnesty that healthcare workers often shouted out or inappropriately shared information about their HIV and pregnancy status, which led to them being stigmatised by the local community. "This sort of unprofessional behavior is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with at the level of tertiary and on-the-job training." Dudley said

"While the ACDP agrees with suggestions that a change in mindset regarding confidentiality and privacy among healthcare workers is necessary we are concerned that once again,  rather than protect women and their pre-born babies authors of the report ignore the obvious regarding what young women are taught about the baby they are carrying being nothing but tissue."

"The report appears to presume or insinuate that if women and girls had more information about sexual and reproductive health and rights they would chose contraception or abortion and avoid problems. There are however no facts to support this.  Significant amounts of time and money have been spent on making information on sexual and reproductive health and rights available and while abortions have increased - unplanned pregnancies have not decreased.  In the opinion of the ACDP the information should not only be more accessible but the content should be reviewed and revised to make it more suitable and relevant to the goal of mothers and babies being both healthy and alive.  The ACDP would like to see more emphasis placed on making information available about the life growing within a mother and the needs of both mother and child."

"The ACDP calls on the minister of Health to investigate claims that most pregnant women and girls walk to their nearest clinic, often an hour away, because of the lack of public transport, and to ensure that where necessary clinic budgets include mobile facilities or suitable transport to allow for easier access".

"Clearly this is not just a health issue, and a co-ordinated inter-sectoral government response is needed."

Heritage Day - Celebrating 20 years of democracy

18 September 2014
ACDP Parliament


Heritage Day -Celebrating 20 years of democracy:
‘Tell your story that moves South Africa forward’
Speech by Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip


Freedom of Religion not about creating ‘one religion for all’ but allowing people the freedom to share their belief respectfully


“I will not have time today to talk to the story of our youth – I would however like to quote one young man in the North West Province Kagiso Monyadiwa who says ‘National Heritage Day is a day to celebrate the contribution of all South Africans to the building of this country.  What we have done well, was to realise that we are all South African - the challenge now is the economic imbalance amongst us which still divides us and must be dealt with!’

Instead I will speak to the story of faith-based South Africans and Christians in particular who would like us to re-look at government’s policy on Religion in Schools.  They say this with the conviction that we are tearing at the fabric of our society when we impose unrealistic guidelines that prevent learners, parents and communities from influencing the religious ethos of their local schools.  Freedom of Religion is not about creating ‘one religion for all’ but allowing people the freedom to believe as they please and to share their belief respectfully and peacefully. Religion and culture are closely related and should not be stifled.

Clearly this freedom like all others must not negatively impact on others but all learners and students should be able to proudly acknowledge their religious and cultural beliefs and express themselves in line with these in a manner that does not impose on others.

Without outside interference, where the majority of learners at a school are of one faith - eg Christian, Muslim, Catholic etc, it follows that the ethos of that school will appear to be that of the religion of the majority and where the community is more evenly spread across religions the diversity will be more apparent in the ethos.

There is general agreement that factual learning about all religions can be useful but many parents specifically want their children in a school that embraces and teaches their values and I know Christians feel very strongly about this.  Madiba is reported to have said in 1999 that religion was one of the motivating factors in everything he did, ‘without the church,’ he said ‘without religious institutions, I would never have been here today’.

For a significant majority of people in South Africa who believe in Jesus and have chosen a Christian way of life it is important to obey Jesus command of ‘Let the children come to me’ and they passionately agree with the words of Eben Le Roux ('A Silence that Kills) that, ‘as long as we deny the call of Jesus to bring the children to Him we will deny ourselves the most important platform for peace’.

In essence he says: When our children grow up being taught they are their own god and are in need of no other help they suffer from arrogance – arrogant people are selfish, selfish people are disruptive and disruptive people behave like fools.

Faith based parents instil their religious values in their children from the cradle.  Christians for example, teach their children to love God, love others, forgive and care for others and to follow the ‘ten commandments’, so that as they grow up these become firmly held moral standards.

Most of all a relationship with Jesus, is something that does not get switched on and off and no matter how many guidelines there are that say otherwise, Christians will not be free to be themselves if they cannot acknowledge their creator and saviour whether at school, work or home.  We know religious extremism leads to shutting down freedom of religion but we have come a long way and we should be able to explore ways of ensuring freedom of religion without denying our children the freedom to live theirs in their daily lives.  This will move South Africa forward.

‘The rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation, said Madiba, is our children. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.  Our children, he said, are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation’.”


For more information contact Cheryllyn Dudley, MP, 082-890-6520 (SMS best for urgent response)

Media enquiries: Keeno Petersen, Media Liaison Officer, ACDP - Parliament, Tel: 021-403-3307 or Cell: 076-734-9067 or Email: kpetersen@parliament.gov.za

ACDP commends considered approach to Medical Innovation Bill

ACDP Parliament
Media Release
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip
17 September 2014

ACDP Member of Parliament, Cheryllyn Dudley, attended a briefing this morning on the Medical Innovation Bill which has been introduced by the Honourable Narend Singh (IFP) and has been referred to the Health Portfolio Committee.

The presentation held the view that since one in three people in South Africa will get cancer, many thousands of cancer patients in this country who are told to 'go home and die' will remain without access to innovative alternatives.

The response from the committee chairperson was that a lot of work is still to be done and that other committees such as Trade and Industry and Science and Technology will need to engage.

Members expressed the need for there to be a rational evidence based approach to this Bill and not an emotional one in view of its connection to the late Hon Mario Oriani-Ambrosini (IFP).

Dudley says that, “The ACDP agrees in principle with legislation making provision for innovation, keeping in mind that the National Health Act speaks to this in detail and will need to be carefully considered.

We know that presently morphine (a form of heroine) is used for pain control for terminally ill cancer patients - morphine is toxic and lethal as it actively speeds up the death of the patients.

However, the ACDP does not and will not endorse recreational use of cannabis or any attempts to move in this direction.

What is controversial and unlikely to be entertained by our ACDP constituency and the broader South African Society is the goal of 'commercialization of Cannabis.”

This proposed legislation will be subjected first to Public and scientific scrutiny and input through Public submissions and hearings.

“The ACDP commends the committee on its considered approach to this Bill and the recognition that it is contentious”, Dudley added.

The ACDP will report further on this matter once the public process begins and gains momentum in development.

ACDP will support motion of no-confidence in National Assembly Speaker

ACDP Member of Parliament and Chief Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley, said today that:

“On careful consideration of the matter of a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly Speaker, Baleka Mbete, the ACDP Caucas at Parliament has decided to support the motion.

We would like to make it clear that we disassociate ourselves with attacks on Speaker Baleka Mbete’s person and integrity, and from the antics of opposition parties like the EFF and the DA who have done everything possible to make the National Assembly ungovernable in the past few weeks.

We do, however, acknowledge that Parliament has been chaotic and the Speaker has lost the necessary authority to bring order in the House. In our opinion this is due to the fact that the Speaker has undermined her own rulings on more than one occasion and has entered into debate with Members to the detriment of proceedings in the House.

It is imperative that a Speaker in the National Assembly is both firm and fair but most importantly, has the courage of their convictions to follow through on rulings made. Where challenges to those rulings arise these should be speedily addressed and corrected if necessary or suitable consequences to the flouting of rules must follow.

On the issue of whether or not it is advisable for the Speaker in the National Assembly to hold a high party office – because of inevitable conflicts of interest that may arise - the ACDP would like the Parliament of RSA to adopt the position that a Speaker in the National Assembly does not hold a senior party position.”

MP speaks to the issue of Global Terrorism and Religious Freedom

"the ANC’s blanket approval of and support for the Islamic extremist terrorist group Hamas will not always shield us – for now yes, but the day will come when the shocking realities will be within our borders and when we say NO – there will be no mercy".

"Our own Freedom of Religion will not hold up on its own – if we stand by while global terrorism destroys Freedom of Religion around the world - we will stand alone when we are under siege!"

(Repost) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - Cheryllyn Dudley MP ACDP - 26 February 2014

During the take-a-girl-child-to-work campaign in May, Our President, heard for himself the anxiety experienced by South Africa's young women over the Boko Haram abductions in Nigeria. This anxiety has been significantly heightened by reports of beheaded women and children by the terrorist army 'Islamic State' or ISIS in Iraq.

One young woman asked you, Mr President, what you would do if schoolgirls were abducted in South Africa as they have been in Nigeria. Your response was exactly what we wanted to hear, 'we would never sleep, we would look for you until we find you' you said.  The problem is – actions speak louder than words and more than 200 of the 300 Christian girls are still missing and Boko Haram continues to abduct.  A hundred men and boys were taken this week in northeast Nigeria - husbands, sons and brothers - women are acutely affected by this tragic and terrifying loss.  The ACDP applauds the actions of troops from Chad that rescued 85 of those men and boys.  People are asking what we in South Africa are doing – are we saying enough, doing enough - are we engaging at any level in order to help get the abducted girls safely back or to ensure the safety of people under attack in Iraq?

The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed grave concern about the violence in Iraq calling for reassurance that a commitment to religious freedom will remain a priority for the UK Government – this reassurance is also needed in South Africa.  While Islamic extremists have not hidden their intention to impose Sharia Law globally, who would have thought this would be taking place so blatantly in the capitals of the world like London, Paris and Brussels. These are not arbitrary uprisings but long planned coups backed by an increasingly well developed Islamic economic system – one we all contribute to by buying goods with Halaal registration.

The Archbishop has called for the appointment of an Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom to demonstrate Government's serious commitment to developing an overarching strategy against Islamist extremism and violence as it is developing across the globe.

Mr President the ACDP calls on you to re-think your comment that: "Such things (as abductions) happen under certain circumstances, but in South Africa such circumstances would never happen."  We are concerned that your over confidence ignores the realities – the ANC’s blanket approval of and support for the Islamic extremist terrorist group Hamas will not always shield us – for now yes, but the day will come when the shocking realities will be within our borders and when we say NO – there will be no mercy.

The Women's Charter calls on us to strive for permanent peace throughout the world – our words must loudly and clearly condemn attacks on women, on their children and on their men – and condemn attacks on their freedoms.  Presently in Iraq people are being given the option to 'convert, pay a fine or die' but even this is a lie as local reporters say the reality is 'convert or die'.

Our own Freedom of Religion will not hold up on its own – if we stand by while global terrorism destroys Freedom of Religion around the world - we will stand alone when we are under siege!

MANDELA DAY DEBATE

MANDELA DAY DEBATE – Tuesday 29 July 2014

Cheryllyn Dudley MP ACDP

On Mandela Day - having spent time early in the morning with children and caretakers at a crèche - I posted pictures on Face book with the caption: “In loving memory of a man who, like all others was not perfect but, has a special place in my grateful heart.”  

Because critics had expressed concern that Mandela Day amounts to worship of Mandela – I added that: “For me it is another opportunity to thank God for what he did through an ordinary man like MADIBA”.

In reading “Good Morning Mr Mandela” by Zelda La Grange, I was reminded of an interview in June 2013 where Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said: “Nelson Mandela is too much of a saint. He has been too good to white people at the expense of black people” - some agreed others protested!  For me - there is no doubt that he treated white people above and beyond what we collectively deserve – but this must not be to the detriment of black people – I hope, I pray, and I work – with everything in me to make sure this great generosity will be for the greater good of us all.

In “Conversations with Myself” Madiba is quoted as saying...”People feel I see too much good in people...it is a criticism I have to put up with because whether it is so or not, it is something which I think is profitable you tend to attract integrity and honour if that is how you regard those with whom you work.’  In another conversation Madiba said our duty “is to work with human beings, not angels once you know that this man has got this virtue and this weakness - you work with (him) and you try and help him to overcome that weakness.  I don’t want to be frightened that a person has made mistakes and he has got human frailties. I can’t allow myself to be influenced by that...”

One of the first things Madiba did on becoming President was to establish the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund which he said “is the embodiment of our belief that children need to live in an environment where they can flourish." The ACDP couldn’t agree more and would have loved to see this extended to include the environment for unborn children in their mother’s womb.

On the occasion of former President Mandela’s 90th birthday in 2008, I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the ACDP in the National Assembly debate. I expressed our appreciation and said “who would have guessed the phenomenal importance of the birth of this tiny little boy on the 18 July 1918 in Umtata, Transkei?  Not only the impact that this baby was to have on South Africa, but on the nations of the world...only God knew exactly what he had in mind. Leading the way of reconciliation and reconstruction in a society which had been separated by over a century of racial segregation took great vision, great courage and great faith” – if Nelson Mandela's mother had wanted, and had the option of terminating this pregnancy prematurely - as so many mothers do today - it would not only have taken his life but also his legacy - abortion on demand deprives Africa - and South Africa - of who knows what potential.

Madiba never did become the champion of pre-born babies despite the ACDP calling on him to do so - but it does not take away from the champion he was in other ways!

Many favourite stories come to mind but time does not allow so I will end with something I think would bring a smile to Madiba’s eyes – congratulations SA Sevens Rugby Team on winning gold at the Commonwealth games!