On Friday Diana, her sister Carolyn and I visited a fabulous pop up market in the Cape Town castle, Trading at the Castle, a joint initiative between Kamers vol Geskenke and the Cape Craft & Design Initiative. It was billed as an official Cape Town World Design Capital event and just as we were leaving we bumped into WDC CEO Alayne Reesberg, who has much to be proud about with this showcase of craft and design from the Western Cape. It was a pity we did not have more time (we were on our way to the airport) because every one of the 110 stall holders had something wonderful to offer.
A place for ideas, discussion and suggestions for making South Africa a better place.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Thursday, 5 June 2014
Shadow Minister for Small Business Development
Today I was appointed Shadow Minister for Small Business Development in Mmusi Maimane's first shadow cabinet. My deputy is Hendrik Kruger who hails from Emalahleni (formerly Witbank) in Mpumalanga. Like Mmusi's other appointees, I received his letter while sitting in the DA caucus meeting this morning, just as Helen Zille was addressing us. It came as a big shock, but a very welcome surprise nevertheless. As the DA has been saying for many months now, the most important issue facing the country is how to get our economy moving again so it can create jobs, and so lift millions of people out of poverty and desperation. The spotlight will fall on the Small Business Development Ministry for it is tasked with creating the conditions for small businesses to emerge and thrive. The National Development Plan estimates that 80% of new jobs will come from small business. We have a massive task ahead.
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Presidential inauguration - hurry up and wait
Here is a summary of yesterday's Presidential Inauguration, which Diana and I attended and which rounded off an extremely eventful week and a bit for us:
Total travel time: 4 hours
Total waiting time: 6 hours
Total eating and drinking time: 2 hours
Total airshow time: 20 minutes
Total inauguration / speech time: 40 minutes
Total time: 13 hours
Question: was it worth getting up at 3:45 am for this?
Answer: most definitely
Total travel time: 4 hours
Total waiting time: 6 hours
Total eating and drinking time: 2 hours
Total airshow time: 20 minutes
Total inauguration / speech time: 40 minutes
Total time: 13 hours
Question: was it worth getting up at 3:45 am for this?
Answer: most definitely
Friday, 23 May 2014
More than merely semantics
Today's Business Day published my letter on the semantic muddle the Chief Justice got into in the opening of Parliament on Wednesday - click here for the link.
Here is the letter:
Here is the letter:
Dear Sir
Yesterday, the newly sworn in members of the national
assembly (of which I am privileged to be one) listened to Chief Justice Mogoeng
Mogoeng brush aside a point of order from Corne Mulder MP on the procedure for
the election of the Speaker. Mulder pointed out the rules of the election,
drawn up by the Chief Justice himself, state that MPs “must” exercise their
vote. During the vote it became clear that a significant minority of MPs were
abstaining, hence Mulder’s point of order. The Chief Justice responded by
saying that in our democratic system, voters were not compelled to vote but
could exercise their choice to do so, and the same applied here, so where it was
written “must” we were to interpret it as “may.” To which Mulder, raising a
laugh from the House, suggested we apply the same interpretation when
asked to pay our taxes.
To those who dismiss this as mere semantics, I refer them to
the Free Market Foundation’s court action challenging the constitutionality of
Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act, concerning the rules governing
bargaining council agreements. The FMF is requesting the Minister of Labour to
replace the word “must” with “may”, thus freeing her from being compelled to
extend these agreements to all parties.
Can the Chief Justice’s interpretation of his own rules
yesterday be regarded as setting a precedent in law, and if so may the FMF
withdraw its action, or must it still go ahead?
Yours sincerely
Toby Chance
Cape Town
Thursday, 22 May 2014
First day in Parliament
Yesterday went by in a blur and I am now officially a Member of Parliament. It started with our first caucus meeting at 7 am and ended with dinner back at the hotel at 9 pm, in between which I met countless new people from both sides of the House and a fair few surprised ANC members I'd known from my previous life at Adele Lucas Promotions. It had its moments of drama and a few hours of waiting around, but overall it demonstrated a functional South African political system with its traditions, pomp and ceremony intact and respected by all concerned - even the Economic Freedom Fighters, who redefined our understanding of "formal" attire by dressing in red boiler suits and domestic servant attire.
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
The power of 10
Yesterday I got a step closer to becoming a Member of Parliament, by registering at the National Assembly and getting my security clearance. Diana accompanied me all the way. Amazingly, I have never set foot in the Parliamentary precinct so every step was new for both of us. It was a poignant moment when I was handed the lanyard and tag, saying in black writing on a gold background Member of Parliament. When I began this blog the thought of actually being an MP was very remote but now it's only a day away. I am sure every one of the hundred or so new MPs must be going through the same set of feelings and emotions as I am. It all began with that magical number - 10 - on Friday January 24th, and yesterday that number took on an even greater significance.
The literati gather in Franschhoek
Franschhoek must be one of South Africa's most picturesque towns. Just an hour's drive from Cape Town, it's in the heart of the spectacularly beautiful wine country, is home to some of SA's best restaurants and offers a hideaway for celebrities and tycoons who enjoy its uber-civilised atmosphere and Europe-in-Africa feel. No doubt reason enough for Richard Branson to choose to buy a country lodge and estate there recently. Last weekend the town hosted its annual literary festival and Diana and I were lucky enough to be there. It was a last-minute decision, Diana being commissioned to film a debate for Carte Blanche on the high-fat diet promoted by celebrity nutritionist and sports scientist Tim Noakes.
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