NCOP members seek same respect that ministers afford National Assembly
This comes after the ministers and deputy ministers of electricity and energy and those from mineral and petroleum resources failed to appear before the select committee on griculture, land reform and mineral resources.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile addressed the National Council of Provinces in Parliament, Cape Town on 7 November 2024. Picture: @PresidencyZA/X
CAPE TOWN - Members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have called on ministers to afford them the same respect as the National Assembly.
This comes after the ministers and deputy ministers of electricity and energy and those from mineral and petroleum resources failed to appear before the select committee on griculture, land reform and mineral resources.
The NCOP was supposed to get an update from the departments on energy efficiency and related matters.
The departments of Mineral Resource and Petroleum and Energy and Electricity were due to make a final appearance before the NCOP on Tuesday.
However, neither department sent a political head to lead the delegations.
Chairperson Mpho Modise says he understands why Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa was not available, but not his deputy Samantha Graham-Maré.
“He or she is not available and there is no reason why. Minister is in Japan only coming back tomorrow.”
He says this can’t continue in the new year.
“We must come back much stronger and rejuvenated and eager to move forward as we push the boundaries and make sure that ministries understand that they’ve got a responsibility to respect the NCOP in the same way they respect the National Assembly.”
Modise says they will raise the matter with the departments when they return next year.