S. African Parliament Speaker rejects request to reconvene Parliament to address power crisis

CAPE TOWN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete on Tuesday rejected a request to reconvene Parliament to address a worsening power crisis.

In reply to the request from the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), Mbete said she agreed that the prevailing energy crisis was a very serious matter for the nation.

However, existing Parliamentary portfolio committees, including the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, are empowered to deal with the issues at electricity utility Eskom, said Mbete.

"The relevant committees could, therefore, take up the matter if needed and there was no need for the National Assembly to be reconvened at this point," the Speaker said.

Even if an ad hoc committee was required, such would not require the House to reconvene, she added.

Last week, DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen wrote to Mbete, requesting the reconvening of Parliament, which has been dissolved before the May 8 general elections, to find solutions to constant rolling power blackouts which are blamed on state-run Eskom.

This in light of Eskom having entered stage 4 load shedding for eight consecutive days, has already cost the South African economy billions of rands, Steenhuisen said.

Mbete said that although the National Assembly has been dissolved, it remains competent to function in terms of the Constitution.

Parliament's relevant committees, including ad hoc committees, could convene to discuss matters and potentially report if needed, Mbete said.

"This did not require the National Assembly to meet first," she added.

In response to Mbete's rejection, Steenhuisen claimed it is clear that in direct contrast to the powers and privileges awarded to Mbete by the Rules of Parliament, the Speaker is taking her instructions directly from ruling African National Congress (ANC) and is acting in the interests of the ANC, rather than the 57 million South Africans who rely on Parliament to develop and implement solutions to crises such as that of Eskom.

"The Speaker has a constitutional obligation to ensure that the Legislature resolves the problems that the Executive is unable or unwilling to deal with," Steenhuisen said.

Since February, particularly for the past week, South Africa has been hit hard by a new spate of rolling power blackouts.

The DA is planning a national day of action against the power crisis on March 29, with the aim of forcing the government to take real action in addressing the issue.