Parliament to keep a closer eye on the Presidency

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile chairing Cabinet Lekgotla at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

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Parliament is set to become stronger in its oversight role, with the establishment of a portfolio committee to oversee the Presidency.

The National Assembly Rules Committee announced the decision to establish the committee, which was one of the recommendations of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

Most parties in Parliament have welcomed the announcement.

Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip George Michelakis says, “Two important DA proposals to ensure Parliament becomes a more robust place for oversight, one is the establishment of the oversight commission over the Presidency, which was also recommended by the Zondo report on State Capture.”

ActionSA’s Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip has described the move as a positive development.

Trollip says, “In 2009, I proposed we establish this committee. All nine provinces have an oversight over the Office of the Premier. This will make Parliament even more important and hold the Presidency even more accountable.”

The Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, Lawson Naidoo, says if the committee focuses on public interest there will be little chance for it to be weaponised against the President.

Naidoo says, “The committee will be formed on a proportional basis and ultimately it’s about holding to account, in public interest, politics always come to play so this will be no different, used to weaponise against the president. There is always a chance for that, but it will require that Parliament does everything in the public interest.”