Johannesburg - The Gauteng and Western Cape provincial legislatures could be headed for a clash with opposition parties.
The Collective for Democracy (CD) – a coalition of anti-ANC parties comprising Cope, the African Christian Democratic Party, Freedom Front Plus and United Christian Democratic Party – says it is opposed to planned increases in the number of seats in the legislatures.
The coalition says the move would conflict with one of its core objectives: to improve efficiency and affordability by reviewing “the bloated size and structure of government” in the three spheres.
“The CD will review the structure and size of the public service administration to increase accessibility, effectiveness and sustainability,” said Mosiuoa Lekota, CD’s co-ordinator, in a statement on Monday.
It was reported at the weekend that talks were held in Gauteng to consider increasing the number of people serving in the province’s legislature.
This was due to a 15 percent increase in the province’s population since 2007.
If implemented, the plan could raise the number of Gauteng MPLs from the current 73 to a maximum of 80.
DA leaders in the Western Cape are also reportedly pushing for the expansion of their legislature.
MPLs receive an annual salary of R860 787.
Lekota said amending the constitution to add more seats would adversely affect efficiency and affordability in the two provinces.
The Star