For a soundbite of the NCOP Chairperson Mr Amos Masondo, click on this link: https://iono.fm/e/1274459
Parliament, Tuesday, 31 January 2023 - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson, Mr Amos Masondo said the capacitation of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Officials, and improvement of the overall support system, are the necessary interventions needed to increase Parliament’s contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens.
He was speaking at the NCOP’s three-day hybrid training and development workshop for Members and officials held at the Southern Sun Cape Sun hotel in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
In his opening remarks, Mr Amos Masondo said, as an institution that plays a great role in strengthening the creation of society where human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms are realised, it is incumbent upon Parliament to provide the necessary support to the public representatives and officials who support them.
He highlighted the importance of continuous training and capacitation of Members to maximise the institution’s law-making, oversight and public participation efforts. He said possibilities presented by innovative ways of working explored during the period of the limitations that were imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the fire that gutted the parliamentary precinct early last year, must be expanded.
The three-day training session forms part of the 6th Parliament’s capacity-building programme which commenced with the orientation and induction of MPs in June 2019. In attendance are NCOP MPs, Special Delegates from Provincial Legislatures, South African Local Government Association (SALGA) leaders, officials from Parliament and various legislatures.
Mr Masondo said the purpose of the training and development session is to ensure a viable Member-centric integrated personal development and to empower MPs to undertake their constitutional function of holding the Executive accountable.
He said over the years, further interventions to enhance experiential learning of MPs were organised and covered areas that are critical to the work of Members of Parliament. This training exercise, however, will revisit some of the items from previous years, and also deal with, among other things:
- The usage and interpretation of laws and policies for effective and robust oversight;
- Developing an effective municipal support and intervention mechanisms;
- Parliamentary support systems; and
- Building a training and development curricula.
Among the speakers on the first day, was the former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Advocate Michael Masutha who made a presentation on the effective usage and interpretation of laws and policies for effective and robust oversight. He also highlighted that Parliament’s law-making function must always fall within the parameters and provisions of the Constitution.
Other speakers included the Chief State advisor, Advocate Susan Masapu, the Gauteng Provincial Whip, Mr Mohammed Dangor, Professor Wessel Le Roux from the Dullar Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights, NCOP Chief Whip, Mr Seiso Mohai, as well as MP, Kenny Mmoiemang and House Chairperson, Mr Jomo Nyambi.
Voting Procedures in the house, the effective usage and interpretation of the Parliamentary Rules, and interpretation of the Constitution for effective oversight are amongst key topics that were discussed on the first day. The Secretary to the NCOP, Advocate Modibeli Phindela addressed the session on the rules and procedures of Parliamentary sittings and meetings.
Mr Masondo said this training intervention must be understood in the context of the National Development Plan which directs state institutions to improve their performance through, among others, a commitment to high performance and a willingness to learn from experience; and in line with the 6th Parliament’s efforts, over the years, to ensure that public representatives are empowered to facilitate the effective and efficient functioning of Parliament.
The training continues on Wednesday, 01 February.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
ENQIURIES: Moloto Mothapo
Arrange a tour