Home | News | MPS FINALLY PASS SODV BILL

MPS FINALLY PASS SODV BILL

20/06/2018 01:43:00 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO

Font size:

LOBAMBA – Outgoing Members of Parliament have given the electorate a perfect goodbye by passing the controversial Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Bill, 2015.

This took place during a sitting held at the House of Assembly.
The latest developments have put to rest the curiosity that was created during a sitting on Monday where it seemed like the Bill was going to be delayed again after a communication from Senate was tabled with amendments that the upper House had made.

The communication from Senate was read by Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Dlamini and the main issue was the age of consent which had been changed from 16 to 18.

In his address, the DPM stated that according to the Bill, the age of consent was 16 while it should be 18.
As if ensuring that they ended their era on a clean note, during yesterday’s sitting the MPs did not even waste time debating the amendments but instead agreed in one voice that the Bill should just be passed.

It was Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo who simply stood up to move the motion that the Bill should just be passed. “I find it fit that we approve the message from Senate because yesterday (Monday) it became clear that as MPs we had enough time to look into the amendments and we debated that there was nothing serious that made us differ with what Senate had said,” Khumalo said.

He mentioned that since the MPs had no problem with the Bill being given a go-ahead, there was no need to delay it.
However, he warned that there was a need to be clear on the other laws that were stipulated in the Bill which would in future clash with it.

“I ask that it be made clear as to which laws are those that would then be repealed should it be discovered that they clash with this Bill.
“It should not just be a general provision but they should be written and made clear,” he said.

Khumalo was seconded by Mtfongwaneni MP, Mjuluko Dlamini who said that the Bill should be given the blessing of the House as he argued that the amendments that had been made by Senate were not that serious.

As if they had planned it, the rest of the MPs screamed in support of the motion and no one could blame the representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who were seen smiling as they watched the proceedings while sitting at the gallery.