National Assembly approves new committee to oversee Presidency

The National Assembly has adopted a report of the Rules Committee that establishes a committee that will play oversight over the Presidency.

The report was adopted with the objection of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

ANC Deputy Chief Whip Dorries Mpapane says the argument to establish this committee first arose in the 6th Parliament and later found expression in the report of the State Capture Commission.

There are also changes to the procedure of oral replies, and the time allocated for ministers to answer questions in the House has been increased.

These changes will kick in next year.

Mpapane says these reforms set South Africa’s Parliament apart from others.

“The proposed committee is expected to focus on the budget and administration of the Presidency and to call a member of the executive delegated by the President to account; therefore, in this way, it will function in a similar way to a portfolio committee, but the rules also permit it to call the President and the deputy President once every year to discuss policy matters of national and international importance.”