NCOP prepares to amend its rules to accommodate GNU
Newly-elected chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane chaired the first committee meeting since her election about two weeks ago.
Former Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane was elected NCOP chair. Picture: Parliament of RSA/X
CAPE TOWN - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) started its business in earnest on Wednesday, as it prepares to amend its rules to cater for the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The NCOP, which represents the interests of the various provinces in Parliament, also established its first committees, like the rules and programme committees to kickstart the seventh administration.
The rules committee - which met for the first time on Wednesday - also established the different clusters to hold government departments to account even before the Cabinet announcement.
Newly-elected chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane chaired the first committee meeting since her election about two weeks ago.
Mtsweni-Tsipane told the rules committee that a subcommittee on the review of the NCOP’s rules would have to look at how the GNU would affect the business of the NCOP.
“We will accordingly subject the rules back to the review subcommittee to have a look at our rules and factor in issues that might have emerged from government of national unity.”
NCOP secretary Advocate Modibedi Phindela said afterwards, the rule changes won’t be extensive since the ANC still controls seven out of the nine provinces.
This is unlike in the National Assembly, where it only controls 40% and no longer in the majority.