The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has confirmed that some of the key tasks for Parliament in this financial year will be processing the report of the Zondo Commission and finalising the Electoral Amendment Bill.
Presenting the institution’s budget vote for debate in the National Assembly, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula reported that the President has submitted four out of the five State Capture Commission reports, with the final report expected to presented to the President on 15 June 2022. An implementation plan will follow four months after that.
“Based on legal advice received, Parliament has already commenced work on the third and fourth reports. Members implicated whilst serving as Members of Parliament and who are still MPs have been referred to the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests to consider the allegations in order to determine if there was a breach of the Ethics Code,” she said.
Parliament’s research unit has been tasked with analysing the reports with a view of advising the relevant oversight committees and the Rules Committee once the final report and implementation plan has been submitted. This work will inform the Rules Committee’s decisions concerning any possible action to be taken under the Powers and Privileges Act against implicated individuals who are no longer Members of Parliament.
The Secretary to Parliament has also been tasked with ensuring that MPs receive adequate training on key financial legislation to avoid oversight failures highlighted by the Commission in relation to Parliament’s role. “Only once the entire report and implementation plan is before Parliament, will the Rules Committee decide on how best to proceed with the processing thereof,” said the Speaker.
On the matter of the Electoral Amendment Bill, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula reported that Parliament has approached the Constitutional Court for a six-month extension within which to finalise the draft legislation. “I would want to assure the public that both Houses of Parliament are committed to processing this Bill timeously, whilst at the same time taking into account the necessity for thorough public consultation on a matter of such importance to our democratic dispensation.
“We hope that the President will assent to the Bill before the end of 2022. We must state categorically that there is no justification at all for recent attempts by some to cause public panic by suggesting that the general elections of 2024 are at risk,” said the Speaker.
She also reported that the Presiding Officers will receive a presentation of the feasibility study conducted in 2018 on relocating Parliament from its current premises in Cape Town. The report will be shared with Members of Parliament before a decision is taken on the future seat of Parliament.
In supporting the budget vote, the Deputy Chief Whip of the majority party, Ms Doris Dlakude called on Parliament to make sure that it executes its oversight and accountability responsibilities in order to create a more equal society where the previously marginalised can have access to a better quality of life. “The mandate of Parliament is also to accelerate the transformation agenda, as guided by the provisions of the Constitution, through strategic and outcome based oversight and accountability. as well as through the precept of an activist people’s parliament.”
Ms Natasha Mazzone, the Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, raise concerns about questions submitted to the executive that remain unanswered. “The more questions we submit, the less answers we receive. We need to improve; that is not accountability,” she argued.
Ms Mazzoni also complained about Parliament lagging behind in processing legislation and alleged that Private Members’ Bills were ignored when they do not come from the ruling party. She also suggested that it was time all MPs returned physically to Parliament, instead of the current hybrid system where some MPs still participate via virtual platforms.
The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Mr Natasha Ntlangwini accused Parliament of not fully exercising its constitutional powers to initiate and prepare legislation, and of only rubberstamping legislation initiated by the executive. “Parliament does not have the capacity to prepare or initiate legislation. Since 2009, only one Private Member’s Bill was introduced,” she pointed out.
She also used the opportunity to reiterate her party’s long-standing position for the national legislature to relocate to Tshwane, saying the fire incident presented an opportunity for Parliament to relocate. “The time has come to break the colonial pact with the City of Cape Town and relocate Parliament to Tshwane. Don’t rebuild the fire damaged buildings; this is an opportunity to relocate,” said Ms Ntlangwini.
Other political parties raised concerns about Parliament not fully exercising its constitutional powers to amend budgets presented by the executive. There was also concern about the absence of a parliamentary committee responsible for oversight over the Presidency, with some MPs saying this situation made it difficult to hold the Office of the President accountable for money allocated or its performance.
Mr Ahmed Shaik-Emam of the National Freedom Party questioned the impact of oversight reports adopted in the National Assembly, when their recommendations are never implemented. “We spend millions of rands on oversight, identify issues and compile reports that we debate and adopt. And nothing happens; no consequences, accountability. What is the purpose?”
Arrange a tour