The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo has written to the Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, expressing grave concern about the prolonged and questionable delays experienced in processing a Private Member’s Bill (the Limpopo Petitions Amendment Bill) submitted by a member of the DA, calling for this apparent undermining of an important democratic and legislative process to be fully investigated.
This is not a new phenomenon. As the Democratic Alliance, we have had no success in getting any Private Member’s Bill introduced into the Limpopo Legislature, let alone, adopted – despite our best efforts. This worrying situation points to a lack of an agreed process, incompetence, or other more disturbing machinations within the Legislature.
We seek full reasons for the delay and wish to know what accountability steps will be taken.
Since the Bill was submitted some six months ago, the Legislature has failed to complete even the first procedural step: certification of the Bill by a legal officer.
Despite numerous follow-ups with relevant officials, and the matter having been raised directly with both the Speaker and the Secretary of the Legislature during a meeting of the Legislature’s Oversight Committee held on 19 March 2025, there has been no movement on the Bill.
The right to petition is enshrined in our constitutional order, and the state has an obligation to protect, advance, and fulfil this right. The right to petition strengthens our democracy by providing citizens with a means to take matters directly to organs of government. It is a vital tool by which under-resourced and rural communities, such as those found in Limpopo, may seek government intervention or redress.
The Amendment Bill seeks to strengthen the efficacy of the Limpopo Petitions Act by creating an offence for provincial or municipal officials who fail to respond to petitions, take action, or submit adequate reports within stipulated timeframes, thereby reinforcing the effectiveness and integrity of the petitions process.
This prolonged and unexplained delay is a serious indictment of the functioning of the Legislature. One of its core constitutional responsibilities is to make laws. It is entirely unacceptable that a valid and well-motivated legislative proposal has been effectively ignored for over half a year.
Private Members’ Bills are a critical tool in strengthening democracy, enabling elected representatives to contribute constructively to governance. A failure to process such Bills undermines not just the individual member, but the credibility of the entire Legislature.