Accountabililty from executive set to dominate Parliament this week
For the first time since the formation of the Government of National Unity, it will be Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s turn to answer set questions in the National Assembly.
Parliament. Picture: @ParliamentofRSA/X
CAPE TOWN - Accountability from the executive will dominate Parliament this week as ministers across the Justice, Security and Social Services clusters are due to answer questions in both houses.
For the first time since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), it will be Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s turn to answer set questions in the National Assembly, with President Cyril Ramaphosa having done so last week.
Amid a cloud of impropriety swirling over Justice Minister Thembi Simelane, she too is expected to face the portfolio committee at the end of the week to explain her dealings with the now-defunct VBS bank.
On Monday, the powers and privileges committee which deals with the disciplinary matters of Members of Parliament (MPs) will finally be established, and a chairperson elected.
After several induction sessions over the past two weeks, Parliament’s finance watchdog, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), will also get down to real business, quizzing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme about its annual report, and receiving an update from the Special Investigating Unit about its investigations into the scheme.
Fresh from receiving another BRICS bank loan on Friday, Transnet will also be in SCOPA’s crosshairs on Wednesday.
After delivering the first set of crime statistics on Friday, since taking office, on Tuesday Police Minister Senzo Mchunu will make a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on what the South African Police Service is doing to get a grip on extortion.
Parliamentary matters are also set to be battled out in the Western Cape High Court.
On Tuesday, ten axed former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Members of Parliament will be challenging their dismissal and replacement with eight new members last week.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and three civil society groups will ask the court on Thursday to stop MK parliamentary leader John Hlophe from taking up a seat on the Judicial Service Commission, arguing Parliament’s approval of his designation had been irrational.