ACCOUNTABILITY

Because MPs are elected representatives, they must be accountable to the people of South Africa and they must act in the public interest.

Parties are elected on the strength of what they stand for, and party MPs should be able to explain what they have been doing to carry out their duties.

Because party mandates are temporary (elections are held every five years), MPs are accountable in the sense that they may not be re-elected if they are not good public representatives or if they do not deliver on party promises. MPs are also accountable to their own parties - the whips of the various political parties maintain internal party discipline in Parliament.

Click here to view the Code of Conduct of Members of Parliament