The mandate of Parliament of passing legislation, oversight over the executive, promotion of public participation and involvement in international relations is not a fixed and static responsibility. Also given the reality that South Africa is part of a fast-changing, dynamic and a complex world, that responsibility requires knowledgeable and learning Members of Parliament (MPs).
Furthermore, that demands from time to time improved capacity on the side of the MPs to ensure quality application of that mandate and based on that common understanding, MPs are always encouraged to study to be able to cope with their work.
Briefing the Speakers’ Forum that took place in the Gauteng province in April 2018, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, said more than 160 MPs and MPLs (Members of Provincial Legislatures) were sent to the University of the Witwatersrand to be trained in various leadership areas.
He said: “The nature of our work is such that education improves our ability to understand issues better by reading and improving our qualifications and educational training. We have had Chairpersons comment on the improvement of the quality of questions Members pose and how they interact with issues presented in committees.”
Furthermore, Mr Tsenoli said: “Capacity building is critical. In fact, continuous learning is an absolute must, given the changes that are taking place in the world of work as a result of technological advancement and the development of artificial intelligence. We have to learn to learn.”
There are MPs in the sixth Parliament who have obtained PhD degrees in different areas of study. The MPs include Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Dr Nobuhle Nkabane of the African National Congress (ANC) and Dr Naledi Pandor of the ANC and who is the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
Dr Ndlozi obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy under the topic: “Permanent Juniority: Black Youth Politics in the Vaal Under Late Colonisation”.
Dr Nobuhle Nkabane obtained her PhD under the topic: "An Analysis of Revenue Management in Water and Sanitation in Harry Gwala and Ugu Water Services Authorities".
Dr Pandor obtained her PhD in Education. Her research topic was “The Contested Meaning of Transformation in Higher Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa”. Dr Pandor, who holds a Master’s in Education Policy and Practice in Multi-Racial Societies, and another one in Linguistics from the Applied Linguistics Perspective, said she chose education “because it is the discipline I have always had an interest in understanding further. I am a teacher by early training and am fascinated by education. I learnt that there is a vast amount of absolutely fascinating educational information that we need to tap into much more than we do today. I also learnt how to use research material and to carry out a very demanding academic schedule”.
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