The Democratic Alliance (DA) is seeking a debate in the National Assembly on what it says are irregularities in the operation of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC).
DA defence spokesman David Maynier yesterday asked for a snap debate on the subject in the National Assembly but this was apparently turned down by Speaker Max Sisulu.
The party has now submitted a notice of motion, requesting a debate on what it sees as a crisis in the NCACC “and its implications for
Maynier says the reasons for the rejection of a snap debate were contradictory. “Initially we were told that it had been declined on the grounds that it was not an urgent matter, nor was it a matter of national importance; [then] however, we were informed it was rejected on a technicality. Both reasons appear to be designed to avoid debating the dodgy arms deals allegations in Parliament.”
The DA MP says there is no doubt that his allegations are a matter of urgent public importance. “The fact that SA is selling arms to a series of undemocratic regimes, with appalling human rights records and a number of which are involved in regional or internal conflicts is far more important than many of the other matters put before the National Assembly and, I believe, it has a duty to debate this matter and to debate it urgently.”
