STATEMENT BY MINISTER SISULU ON REMARKS BY BANTU HOLOMISA

The N2 Gateway development continues to draw interest and to attract media headlines.  As this development is about human settlement and, more importantly, about providing a better life for all, such an interest should be welcomed.  Public discussions of this nature serve useful purpose of providing us with a space to enhance our own understanding and to appreciate the deeper challenges and complexity of issues that are thrown up by this project.

I am encouraged that my colleague, the Honourable Bantu Holomisa has seen it fit, somewhat belatedly, to engage with the affected and interested stakeholders in this development.  In doing so, the Honourable Holomisa fulfils that sacred duty and responsibility expected from Members of Parliament that we become true representatives of the people.  However, this is a generous and benevolent interpretation of Holomisa’s intervention.

Careful analysis of the facts presents, unfortunately a different picture.  Holomisa is reported to have told the affected parties to ignore the court ruling.  He advised the community to approach the ANC at Luthuli House or alternatively President Thabo Mbeki to resolve their challenges and that they should ignore the local representatives.  This call borders on insulting local public representatives.  Yet, not long ago, the Honourable Member has been consistent in advising us to guard against a scenario that may promote any form of dictatorial tendencies.  The ANC is a broad church that responds at grassroots level to the issues that Holomisa is referring to.  There is nothing that Luthuli House can do that cannot be done by the local and Provincial representatives of the Party.  Herein lies Holomisa’s mischief: to discredit the structures of the Party that are seized with the matter and most competent to deal with the issues at hand.

He reportedly called on the residents of Joe Slovo to ignore the recent court ruling.  As a Member of Parliament, he does not need to be reminded that our courts exist for good order.  Aside from helping with interpretations of the laws, they also serve as neutral and independent arbiters.  Difference of opinion around the N2 Gateway between government and certain sections of the community was taken to the High Court for arbitration.  Before and during this period, the Honourable Holomisa was aware of this dispute.  He correctly did not interfere in the legal process.

One can assume that his non-intervention was based on the confidence that he has in our legal and judicial process.  My office ensured that Members of Parliament are adequately informed precisely because of the implications that this project entailed for all of us.  He is therefore in a far more privileged position to provide proper information and guidance.  It is unfortunate that far from offering sound advice, he sought to exploit the people’s concerns and succumbed to appeals of a vote catching opportunity.  Like so many have done before him!

His suggestion that the community approach the political heads in the face of the court ruling smacks of political mischief of the worst kind.  This is so because it encourages a certain form of lawlessness in which a law maker encourages disregard for the law.  Such postures lead to undermining efforts to build a robust constitutional democracy.  It is completely at odds with the code of conduct for Members of Parliament and dangerous, as it also pits the judiciary against the citizens.  We cannot only support democracy when they rule against ones own interests.

The ANC is a broad church accommodative of various perspectives, but committed to ensuring a better life for all.  The N2 Gateway project aims to achieve that.

Lindiwe Sisulu MP

Minister of Housing