Zuma ensured e-tolls Bill was constitutional

Monday, October 21, 2013

Pretoria - The Constitution does not require President Jacob Zuma to seek legal advice on the application of the e-tolls Bill or its impact on job creation and the poor.

Responding to questions posed to him for written reply in Parliament, on Monday, Zuma also said disruptions in learning at the Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape triggered him to respond to a letter and to intervene in the crises.

Zuma signed the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill into law on 21 September, paving the way for the implementation of tolling on Gauteng freeways.

Responding to a question by DA Parliamentary spokesman on Transport Ian Ollis, Zuma said he only sought legal opinion on the constitutionality of the e-tolls Bill.

“The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, does not require the President to consider, the issues raised in question 2 and 3, before he assents to or signs a Bill passed by Parliament.

“Section 79(1) of the Constitution, requires the President to either assent to or sign the Bill passed by Parliament, or refer it back to the National Assembly for consideration if he has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill,” he said.

Responding to a question form Annelie Lotriet, the DA’s parliamentary spokesman on higher education on why he appointed Minister in the Presidency: Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane, to deal with the recent Walter Sisulu University strike, Zuma said: “[I received] a letter on 2 September 2013 from Reverend VP Mabo from the South African Council of Churches in the Eastern Cape appealing for his intervention in the crisis which was looming at Walter Sisulu University.

“The letter raised a couple of concerns with regard to the protracted labour dispute, which had suspended learning at the University.

“After consideration of the letter and the appeal for the Office of the President to intervene, the President assigned the Minister in the Presidency to intervene on his behalf.” – SANews.gov.za