The Democratic Alliance`s (DA) longstanding member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Vincent Gore, defected to the fledgling Independent Democrats last week in jostling ahead of the general elections.
Speculation about Gore`s resignation from the DA had been circulating for some time since his name was placed at number 27 on the DA`s Gauteng list, making him unelectable for a return to Parliament.
Gore has been a DA member of Parliament since 1999, when he was then the youngest member in the National Assembly. He has been the DA`s spokesman on science and technology, communications, disability issues and recently on the Post Office.
His resignation leaves former editor Dene Smuts as the only DA member of the communications committee until the new Parliament is assembled after the 14 April general elections.
The parliamentary portfolio committee has had one of the highest work rates in Parliament since the 1994 elections, having overseen a number of new laws and amendments covering broadcasting and ICT issues.
A controversial new law before it is the draft Convergence Bill, which has stirred up much debate over whether it has failed to deliver on the promises made at last year`s convergence colloquium.
Gore says the draft Convergence Bill is unlikely to be passed before Parliament this year. "It probably should be recalled totally and rewritten," he says.
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