It’s been a year since actress Florence Masebe went to the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa to present the Performers Protection Amendment Bill but President Cyril Ramaphosa still “ignores” the pleas from the actress who went to represent an industry that has been harshly accused of exploitation, abuse and harsh realities that local actors work under.
On Tuesday Florence took to social media to say that her understanding is that President Cyril Ramaphosa has three choices to make.
“1. Sign the bill. 2. Return it to the National Assembly if there are sections whose constitutionality he has concerns about. 3. Send it to the Constitutional Court to have it tested. He has done none of this,” says Florence Masebe.
“A whole year since I made this presentation to Parliament of SA. A whole year of being ignored by the man who must sign the bill into law. Other voices seem to matter more than the plight of actors on this matter to President Cyril Ramaphosa,” says Florence Masebe tagging both Parliament and Cyril Ramaphosa on Twitter.
According to the powers of President catered for by the South African Constitution, Florence Masebe’s understanding of what Cyril Ramaphosa should be doing are 100 percent correct. Other than that, the President is ignoring the pleas from the actors of his country.
Powers and functions of President
84. (1) The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of the national executive.
(2) The President is responsible for—
(a) assenting to and signing Bills;
(b) referring a Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration of Bill’s constitutionality;
(c) referring a Bill to the Constitutional Court for a decision on Bill’s constitutionality;
(d) summoning the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces or Parliament to an extraordinary sitting to conduct special business;
(e) making any appointments that the Constitution or legislation requires the President to make, other than as head of the national executive;
(f) appointing commissions of inquiry;
(g) calling a national referendum in terms of an Act of Parliament;
(h) receiving and recognising foreign diplomatic and consular representatives;
(i) appointing ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, and diplomatic and consular representatives;
(j) pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures; and
(k) conferring honours.
In her plea, Florence Masebe raised the issue of families of departed actors, many of whom died poor have lost all hope of ever receiving compensation.
She also told the House that giving economic rights to actors is not a mistake.
Florence Masebe also pleaded with Parliament to save actors and future generations from the blatant exploitation of actors by broadcasters.
Maybe President Ramaphosa doesn’t understand his powers as stated above and in the Constitution. Here’s a Tshivenda translation of his powers:
Maatla le mešomo ya Mopresidente
84. (1) Mopresidente o na le maatla ao a a filwego ke Molaotheo le melao, go akaretšwa
yeo e nyakegago go phethagatša mešomo ya go ba Hlogo ya Mmušo le hlogo ya
khuduthamaga ya setšhaba.
(2) Mopresidente o na le maikarabelo a-
(a) go amogela le go saena Melaokakanywa;
(b) go bušetša Molaokakanywa go Seboka sa Maloko a Palamente gore o lekolwe
lefsa go kgonthišiša gore o molaong;
(c) go fetišetša Molaokakanywa go Kgorongtsheko ya Molaotheo gore e fe
sephetho sa gore Molaokakanywa o molaong;
(d) go bitša Seboka sa Maloko a Palamente, le ya Khansele ya Setšhaba ya
Diprofense goba Palamente go tlo tsenela tulo ye e sego ya mehleng go tlo
rera ditaba tše di ikgethilego;
(e) go thwala batho bao Molaotheo goba melao e nyakago gore Mopresidente a
ba thwale, ntle le go ba hlogo ya khuduthamaga ya setšhaba;
(f) go hloma dikomišene tša dinyakišišo;
(g) go goeletša referentamo ya setšhaba go ya ka Molao wa Palamente;
(h) go amogela le go hlokomela batseta ba dinaga dišele ba diplomate le ba
bokhonsole;
(i) go kgetha baambasatara; batsetaphethi, le batseta le baemedi ba bokhonsole;
To read more on the Constitution of the Republic click [HERE].
MGOSI.co.za
