African National Congress(ANC) Members of Parliament (MPs) continue to fend off a proposal to establish an oversight committee for The Presidency in Parliament.
It’s been kicking the can down the road for the past six months since the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) tabled a formal proposal to the rules committee to establish one.
The Presidency is the only budget vote that is not overseen by a parliamentary committee.
Moreover, with the newly-created post of an electricity minister also falling under The Presidency, calls from the opposition benches for an oversight committee grew louder.
Opposition parties had been calling for an oversight committee over The Presidency since the start of the sixth Parliament in 2019.
More recently, the IFP, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and African Transformation Movement (ATM) argued that given the growing number of ministerial portfolios, councils and national strategic plans housed in The Presidency – an oversight committee is necessary.
But in a rules sub-committee on Friday, ANC MPs reached for every excuse to continue delaying a position on the matter – including that an advisory report requested from Parliament’s budget office six months ago, had been rushed.
The party’s Richard Dyantyi said international best practice needed further consideration, and a study tour abroad was necessary.
“Because when you take an approach of a briefcase decision, it means you don’t consider evidence presented to you on a particular matter.”
He was backed up by the party’s Mina Lesoma.
“I wonder what’s the rush and the impatience, and the agitation that is being demonstrated on this one.”
The discussion left DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube frustrated.
“My view is that we’ve got enough information before us to make a decision. It’s either we want to, or we don’t,” she said.
The chairperson of the sub-committee, Doris Dlakude, said all parties’ views would be presented to the full rules committee to be decided upon.
-EWN
In other news – Faith Nketsi’s husband on the run as he flees his Hyde Park mansion
Troubled business mogul Nzuzo Njilo is allegedly on the run after the South African Police Service issued a warrant of arrest against him. A local publication has it that Njilo has since vacated his multimillion-rand Hyde Park mansion in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg amid a police search.
Reports have it that the mansion was sold over a month ago. In the wake of these developments, little is known about his whereabouts, given that the mansion’s address was his last known address. Learn More
