NGV: Parliament gives extension to seek legal opinions | Rhewal

(Archive photo: Ayanda Ndamane/ANA)

Parliament’s portfolio committee has now agreed to allow more time for opposition parties to gather their own legal opinions on the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill. This follows after the committee indicated last week that it was not prepared to do so, leaving parties with just two days to obtain legal opinions.

In response to this, the Freedom Front Plus had a letter from its legal team delivered to the parliament in which the parliament is placed on terms. Parliament was requested in this letter to grant reasonable time to parties to obtain these legal opinions.

“This action was necessitated after the FF Plus left the committee meeting last Wednesday (March 22) in protest over the refusal to grant an extension to parties for legal opinions,” said Philip van Staden, the FF Plus’ spokesperson on health.

“The FF Plus’ position was that parliament and the state’s legal advisors were given two months to formulate their opinions, while opposition parties were only given two days. The FF Plus already requested the committee on 15 March 2023 to postpone the legal opinions. The request was summarily denied.”

Van Staden says the party’s legal documents were presented on Wednesday morning during a session of the portfolio committee.

During this session, the committee indicated that an extension will be granted until April 5, although the party asked for an extension until April 19.

Nevertheless, the FF Plus considers the postponement as “a victory for the democratic processes of the parliament”.

“The party will continue to apply pressure regarding the NGV to ensure that the ANC does not simply push the bill through.

“The FF Plus’ legal representatives will also constantly monitor the process.”