Extensive amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 were accepted at the end of May when we were conducting our elections, without the South African public and without this Parliament having any say or oversight.

South Africa has 200 years worth of high quality coal beneath our soil. To not use this coal with clean coal technology to protect our environment, would be unjust and tantamount to deliberately sabotaging our economy.

The ACDP urges the Minister to use the Department’s resources in a consistent manner, to foster a spirit of peace, protect our sovereignty, and create an enabling environment for South African business.

If this Department is serious about its mandate, then it must implement policies which, indeed, create more job opportunities. There must be an investing in infrastructure projects, promoting small business growth, and improving education and training programmes.

The prospect of having a JSC nominee who was removed from judicial office for gross misconduct sitting on the very body that made that finding, is plainly wrong.

Nominees to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel leave much to be desired. We also believe this is a duplication of various processes and a waste of money.

The Growth Lab singles out public procurement regulations as the creator of a tender-preneur economy, which it says benefits an exceedingly narrow few at the expense of the rest of South Africa.

This pension reform seeks to strike that correct balance by permitting fund members to access a portion of their savings, which is very positive.

It is very important that we introduce safeguards to protect citizens at home. The ACDP, therefore, welcomes an NCOP amendment that will require explicit consent for access to private property and also the possibility of a warrant.

The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill) should be about one thing, and that is learning. The real tragedy of the BELA Bill is that it shows that the ANC government does not believe in this principle. It is willing to do anything to achieve its ends.

When one appoints the Public Protector as well as the Deputy Public Protector, their appointment must be above reproach.

Building standards have been a particular concern of the ACDP, as many disadvantaged South Africans have been exposed to substandard housing and poor-quality building materials, resulting in substandard RDP houses.