WAR BREAKS OUT IN GNU PARLIAMENTARY ENGINE ROOMS (not that it didn't before, but ... )
- Policy Watch SA
- May 10
- 4 min read
Tensions between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patricia de Lille's Good and Gayron McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance are legendary and it's not our role to comment on the underlying issues. That said, a scan of Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) reports on the proceedings of some parliamentary committee meetings chaired by DA MPs under a Government of National Unity (GNU) has revealed some worrying trends. These tend to point to an even unhealthier state of affairs than the level of discord glaringly apparent during South Africa's recent value-added tax-related parliamentary debacle.
Under the GNU, Parliament's committee chairs include five from the Democratic Alliance (DA). Which is why – in our last post about committee meeting minuting procedures – we looked at the way DA MP Ian Cameron approaches them in his capacity as National Assembly Police Committee chair. That's how we stumbled across a meeting over which he presided on 15 April 2025, when an unpleasant exchange took place between Cameron and EFF members of his committee.
During the previous administration, tensions between the DA (as leading opposition party) and the EFF often surfaced during committee discussions on contentious pieces of legislation. And as most readers will recall, the EFF's feisty approach in the House itself tended not to be appreciated by African National Congress presiding officers – especially during State of the Nation Addresses.
So, the observations that follow aren't our way of taking a swipe at any of the political parties mentioned – or at the GNU. They're shared here simply to demonstrate how divided we are and how much work still needs to be done if Parliament's committees are ever to operate effectively. And if the GNU is to survive.
The 15 April 2025 Police Committee meeting was held to discuss a South African Police Service (SAPS) investigation into the 'alleged Cwecwe rape case', referring to an incident reported to have taken place in October 2024 that only came to the media's attention in March this year (Eyewitness News). However, according to a Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) report, before turning to the issue Cameron 'addressed a public statement ... the EFF had made on 10 April'. Apparently, the statement 'had accused him of blocking parliamentary oversight over the investigation, suggesting that he had rejected their (the EFF's) request on his own (without consulting committee members)'.
The full statement was published by Politicsweb.
The PMG report notes that the EFF had also 'accused ... (Cameron) of gatekeeping, racism (and) chauvinism and (had) made personal attacks against him'. But the statement itself tends to suggest that EFF members of the committee have long been aggrieved by remarks Cameron has made during other meetings, which is why we looked at PMG's report on one that took place on 2 April 2025. We wanted to see for ourselves whether Cameron had generally been 'condescending' and his attitude 'a reflection of "white toxic masculinity"', as the statement claimed – accusations Cameron dismissed during the 15 April 2025 meeting as 'baseless and not true'.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. The PMG report on proceedings that day continues with a detailed account of Cameron's apparently unsuccessful attempts at calling EFF representatives in the committee to order. And eventually it's only after an intervention from African Christian Democratic Party leader, Kenneth Meshoe, that the matter is closed, allowing the meeting to focus on its business of the day.
Having been held virtually, proceedings were video recorded. Although the clip may have been edited because it begins well after the incident, which occurred during Cameron's opening remarks. Fortunately, a video recording of the 2 April committee meeting at which Cameron's manner may have upset EFF members is unedited and confirms PMG's report on proceedings that day.
So, there's a problem. And given the vitally important role played by the National Assembly's Police Committee, it needs to be fixed. Begging the question, 'How?'.
Cameron's background includes ten years with AfriForum, 'focusing on supporting (the) victims of farm attacks' (Wikipedia). And it's not our place to comment, mainly because farm attacks do take place and grisly things happen. So, given the possibility that Cameron may have been singled out by the EFF and his committee subjected to unjustifiable disruptions because of his links to AfriForum, we also looked at National Assembly Sport, Arts & Culture Committee meetings chaired by DA MP Joe McGluwa.
And while there's no evidence of EFF disruptions, McGluwa has apparently fallen victim to unfortunate allegations by Minister Gayton McKenzie. These feature in a PMG report of a meeting held on 19 November 2024 but – being opening remarks – they, too, may have been removed from a video recording of proceedings, which begin with business of the day.
All of which points to the worrying possibility that these may not be isolated incidents. Whatever the case, the atmosphere in all five National Assembly committees chaired by DA MP probably needs to be monitored.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly's Police Committee has issued two media statements worthy of attention:
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