Mandela, FW off to parliament
2004-05-10 08:46
Jan-Jan Joubert
Cape Town - A emergency meeting in the Speaker's office, lasting more than two hours on Sunday night, paved the way for former presidents FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela to address a joint session of parliament on Monday.
Ordinarily, people who are not members of parliament may address the assembly only on invitation and under exceptional circumstances. This honour is normally reserved exclusively for visiting heads of state.
Parliamentary rules have already been bent to invite Mandela.
Over the weekend, the idea took hold (apparently in African National Congress circles rather than New National Party ones) that De Klerk should also speak. However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Patricia de Lille's Independent Democrats opposed this suggestion.
Mike Ellis of the DA explained on Sunday evening that his party had a high regard for De Klerk but did not agree that parliamentary rules should be changed at a whim.
- Beeld