GOOD is the latest party to criticise the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill which is seen as feeding separatist sentiments.
GOOD Western Cape provincial spokesman Carlos Mesquita said the bill was a political manifesto disguised as legislation.
He said the bill, which is currently open for public comment, was an embarrassing document purporting to be serious legislation.
“The bill is a government-sponsored manifesto for the DA and is unashamedly unconstitutional,” said Mesquita.
He said it was unconstitutional because it breaches Sec 41(1) of the South African Constitution, which requires all spheres of government not to “assume any power or function except those conferred on them in terms of the Constitution” and to “exercise their powers and perform their functions in a manner that does not intrude on the geographical, functional or institutional integrity of government in another sphere.”
“The ‘bill’ is also redundant because the South African constitution already provides for the assignment of functions from the National sphere to the Provincial sphere of legislatures and government, including Sec 99, which authorises the assignment of a function by a Member of the National Executive to a Member of the Provincial Executive,” he said.
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He claimed that the DA’s objective was to appease those who wanted to break away from Mzansi to form an independent state. Last week, the ANC said it rejected the proposal because it was unconstitutional and lacked merit.
On Tuesday, 23 January, African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula said the bill was divisive.
“We view this bill as a dangerous attempt to divide South Africa along racial lines and exclude the native population from their rightful land. The divisive agenda, posed under the camouflage of a legislative proposal, is reminiscent of the painful history South Africa endured during the arrival of settlers in the Western Cape. The ATM recognises the historical implications of such proposals and stands firm against any form of invasion or segregation that threatens the unity of our democratic state,” he said in a statement.
The DA tabled it in the provincial legislature in 2023. The party said the bill meant the national government assigned to the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town any services which these lower levels would better deliver of government.
Mesquita said the provincial government already has the powers that the bill seeks.
“We call on the people of the Western Cape to reject this ‘bill’ for the theatre that it is,” he said.
