News24 | Cape Town hearing into controversial Powers Bill postponed after political parties, public excluded

Disruptions and mayhem marred the second leg of the Western Cape Powers bill hearings on Friday

• The second last leg of public hearings on the Powers Bill was disrupted.
• Political parties and civil groups were blocked from entering.
• Angry members broke the main steel door in an attempt to gain entry.

The second last leg of public hearings into the DA's controversial Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill was halted after angry members of political parties and civil groups were blocked from entering.

On Friday afternoon, just hours before the hearings, political parties and lobby groups were barred due to a capacity issue. 

Around 300 people were waiting to gain access. 

Angry members of political parties and civil society tried to gain entry, and then broke the main steel door to the legislature. 

Outside the legislature, EFF members, lobby groups, pro-Palestine supporters and ANC members filled the streets. 

Inside the legislature, the ANC raised objections to the hearings going ahead because the public was not allowed to enter.

The ANC's Nomi Nkondlo said: "The decision was to postpone this hearing because, first and foremost, this thing of organising this hearing in such a small venue on a matter of public interest of this nature... the decision was to hold these hearings in the communities where you can allow people to come."

Nkondlo slammed the DA for allegedly not appreciating the constitutional responsibility of opening it up to the public. 

"The other venues where these hearings were held were very small, and they never anticipated the massive numbers of people because the issue affects all residents, and it was foolish of them to organise this for 150 people because this affects everyone, "she said. 

As angry members of parties and civil societies waited, it led to a face-off with the DA. Activists and political parties shouted, "Voetsek DA", while the DA chanted, "DA, DA, DA". 

The DA in the Western Cape has steadfastly been advancing the legislative process for the bill, despite two legal opinions obtained by the provincial legislature, which raised concerns. 

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Through the bill, the Western Cape government intends to assert its existing provincial and local powers, while seeking the delegation or assignment of additional powers in areas such as policing, public transport, energy (including electricity generation, transmission and reticulation), trade (including international trade), and harbours (including national harbours).

The DA held several hearings so far across the province.

The last scheduled hearing was to take place in Beaufort West on Monday. 

The chairperson of the ad-hoc committee of the Powers Bill, Isaac Sileku, told News24: "We decided to postpone the hearings, based on the safety of the people, as well as to ensure that no lives were lost. We will schedule another hearing for the metro."