Government's shady stealth decisions 

Last year on 15 August 2017, OUTA identified an opportunity to change the law and prevent all Public Participation Processes taking place between 15 December and 15 January. Our action required a legal process which begins with an official Petition to Parliament.

Today (7 June 2018) OUTA received a letter from Parliament that the matter is receiving attention as the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interest met on 31 May 2018 to discuss our complaint.

The petition was submitted to the Office of the Secretary to Parliament last year.

OUTA’s aim with the Private Bill is to assist Parliament with more effective public engagement and transparency and to protect the public from undemocratic decision-making.

Projects like the Drought Levy in Cape Town, Defunct Municipality Bonusses and the controversial nuclear deal debacle, amongst others, could have been prevented if genuine public participation took place.

We will keep our supporters posted on this project.

Note: A petition is a formal request to Parliament for intervention in a matter and in our efforts we pointed to Parliament to intervene and amend the law. The courts, parliament and most businesses are closed from 15 December to 15 January and it is unreasonable to expect effective public engagement over this period.

PUBLIC PETITION TO PARLIAMENT TO AMEND CHAPTER 13 OF THE RULES OF THE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

READ THE FULL LETTER FROM THE SPEAKER