Despite various challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, floods and a devastating fire, Parliament continues to discharge its mandate, as prescribed in the Constitution, said the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, during the Parliament Budget Vote.
This was demonstrated in the NCOP’s work in the current financial year, which included adopting 19 Bills, processing 42 reports from committees, completing 12 interventions in municipalities and 64 executive undertakings. In addition, the NCOP embarked on 46 oversight visits and conducted 155 public hearings on the introduction or amendment of Bills.
On cooperative governance, Mr Masondo pointed out that more should be done to improve its inefficiencies. “The challenges, which have been brought to the attention of the NCOP, include, among others, the lack of evidence-based planning; fragmentation of the planning system and inadequate alignment and coherence across the three spheres.”
However, measures are being put in place to rectify these deficiencies. “The Workshop on Co-operative Governance and Intergovernmental Relations, hosted by the NCOP in February this year, went a long way in equipping us for our oversight role in this regard.”
To enhance the development of its human resources, the legislative sector launched the South African Parliamentary Institute in December last year to “help steer this important initiative in the right direction”.
Parliament’s budget in this financial year is R2.757 billion, but received on R2.683 billion. The shortfall of R74 million will be funded through retained earnings and other spending cuts. The budget allocated to three core expenditure programmes. Administration will receive R776 million; Legislation and Oversight R754 million; and R755 million for associated services and transfer payments to political parties, including the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Mr Masondo noted that the financial resources allocated to it are insufficient to sustain pre-Covid-19 spending patterns, which will pose challenges to Parliament’s sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency.
Weighing in on the budget vote debate, Mr James Brauteseth (Democratic Alliance, for KwaZulu-Natal), emphasised the dangers posed to Parliament’s core business functions by a reduced budget allocation. “Our core mandate is law-making, public participation, research, legal analysis and content development; these are our intellectual backbones. Without which, NCOP is doomed to be the lackey of the National Assembly.”
Instead of strengthening the NCOP’s programme, Mr Brauteseth pointed most of its budget will be spent on administration and remuneration, which will hamper its ability to perform its mandated roles. While not oblivious to budgetary constraints, he pointed out, “the funding of the core function of this house should be non-negotiable”.
Parliament’s role must continue to be transformational, urged Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu (African National Congress, Mpumulanga), to ensure that it passes legislation that “speaks to the needs of our people”. In addition, Parliament’s oversight function must reinforce a continuous relationship between the various elements of the legislature to ensure that government policies are implemented effectively and efficiently, she said.
In addition, she criticised the lack of a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) research reference group that could advise the executive authority on various matters and said that it could provide greater leadership and guidance than is currently the case. She further underscored the fact that more attention should be placed on improving committee members’ knowledge of their subject matter to improve oversight.
Mr Moletsane (Economic Freedom Fighters, Free State) believes that the NCOP has failed to represent the interests of the people and provinces in the national spheres of government. It has failed to hold the executive accountable and instead sits by and watches as the country descends in a downward spiral. “It’s the youth that bears the brunt of unemployment rate that is higher than national average,” he pointed out. This creates a maelstrom of social ills, including crime, violence and social unrest.
Abel Mputing
8 June 2022
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