Parliament today launched the newly relocated and remodelled Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) of the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, in Botshabelo, in the Free State province. Mr Tsenoli led the Botshabelo leg of the launch, while the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Innovation, Ms Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, led the Cape Town leg.
Speaking at the Cape Town-based hybrid event, Ms Mkhatshwa said Members of Parliament should never stop being activists. “Members need to be an arm of advocacy on behalf of citizens. They must never cease to be activists; in that way the role of Parliament will be fulfilled. We should not show too much leniency; people should do what they are expected to do.” She also said Members of Parliament should never be apologetic about their oversight role.
In terms of sections 59 and 72 of the Constitution, Parliament has a duty to promote public access and meaningful participation in its processes and activities to strengthen South Africa’s participatory democracy and help accelerate the development of the people. The launch of the Botshabelo constituency office is part of an ongoing programme undertaken during the sixth Parliament to fulfil this constitutional requirement.
The launch of the Botshabelo office forms part of a parliamentary outreach programme to communities in need of developmental interventions to improve the quality of their lives. The programme sets out to reimagine, remodel and repurpose these constituency offices as strategic contact points to build partnerships between Parliament, MPs and communities.
Parliamentary constituency offices are spread throughout the country and are meant to facilitate public participation between citizens and Parliament. It is hoped that the offices will help people living near them to talk to MPs directly about their concerns and aspirations.
Ms Mkhatshwa noted that such offices provide an opportunity to disseminate useful and educational information to citizens. She also pointed out the extent to which Parliament’s work relies on information provided by communities as they talk to MPs in these constituency offices.
She also reminded MPs of the importance of preparing reports for their political parties on the work they have done in their constituencies during the constituency period. “It is important for us to bring the issues of citizens to Parliament,” she said.
Ms Mkhatshwa said although it was not always feasible for civil society to attend committee meetings, nonetheless committees continually receive and consider issues raised by citizens via social media, email and WhatsApp.
Sibongile Maputi
17 May 2024
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