EFF, MK Party back DA's call for parliamentary oversight of the presidency

This,  after the EFF, MK Party and Action SA supported a proposal by the DA in response to concerns over executive accountability.

On Thursday evening, The National Assembly's Rules Committee voted in favor of creating the committee.

However, there was opposition from the ANC and IFP who argued that existing mechanisms already provide sufficient oversight.

The DA and other supporting parties argue that a dedicated committee will ensure, that the President and his department are held fully accountable, on a more frequent basis rather than occasionally answering questions in parlement.

THE CURRENT PROCESS

Currently, the president and his deputy answer questions in the National Assembly four times a year, and twice a year in the National Council of Provinces.

In these sessions, members of parliament are allowed to pose direct questions on various issues.

The president also accounts during the presidential budget vote where he presents a report on the use of public funds allocated to the Presidency.

MPs are then allowed to debate and scrutinise the budget allocation, allowing for deeper discussions on the Presidency's activities and expenditure.

The president also gets questioned on his State of the Nation Address and his ministers also account to various committees.

While there isn’t a specific committee dedicated to the Presidency, his ministers account on various portfolio committees.

The President also submits periodic reports on matters of military deployments, national security, and international obligations, which MPs can discuss and question.

WHAT WOULD CHANGE IF THE COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED?  

If fully approved by Parliament, the new committee would formally scrutinise the Presidency.

DA Chief Whip in Parliament, George Michalakis says the new committee would also allow for the implementation of the Zondo Commission report, which highlighted gaps in executive oversight.

In his report into state capture, then Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, stated that “it is not correct that everything for which the President is responsible is delegated to a Minister or department outside of the Presidency. Our recent history also shows that the President’s conduct is not always subjected to adequate oversight by the existing portfolio committees”.

These new rules will ensure that the President and the Department of the Presidency is accountable in full, and not only through occasional oral questions and functions delegated to other members of the Executive," says Michalakis.

He says currently, the Director General (DG) in the Presidency is the only DG in the country not accountable to a committee of Parliament.

"The DA believes that for our democracy to function effectively, all spheres of government must work.

In the parliamentary context, it requires robust debate and executive oversight, to ensure that the government fulfils its functions and obligations in the interest of the public.

 Parties within the GNU should be confident in the effectiveness and transparency with which they govern, so that all forms of scrutiny can and should be welcomed," adds  Michalakis.

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