Parliament called to order

2003-06-10 21:20

Cobus Grobler

Cape Town - Members of parliament have been told to stop fighting in the National Assembly.

Speaker of parliament, Frene Ginwala said on Tuesday that she hoped that South Africa would move away from the Westminster and Commonwealth's "style of animosity".

"We should be seeking consensus rather than confrontation. We must build our own tradition of government, based on the Constitution and parliament."

Cedric Frolick of the ANC took a swipe at DA MPs, saying they made a lot of noise when it came to misplaced concepts, but that they seldom attended committee meetings to "make a difference".

Dr Stanley Mogobo of the PAC said attendance at full council sessions was so poor that the public gallery was packed, while parliament was nearly empty.

Cassie Aucamp of the National Alliance called for the attendance figures of MPs to be published in the media.

- Die Burger