Corruption Watch warns Parly committee appointments on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities may be invalid

JOHANNESBURG - Non-profit organisation Corruption Watch has warned that the appointments made as a result of the recommendations made by the portfolio committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities may be rendered invalid.

The organisation accuses the oversight body of failing to facilitate adequate public participation in appointing members to serve in the Commission for Gender Equality.

In 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed four members and Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya–Mogale as the commission's chairperson following the committee’s recommendation and subsequent adoption by the National Assembly.

In papers before the Constitutional Court, Corruption Watch submits that the process undertaken by the portfolio committee on Women, Youth and Persons living with Disabilities failed to abide by the prescripts of the Constitution.

In particular, Section 59 which prescribes that the National Assembly must facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the assembly and its committees.

The organisation details how the committee only provided the names of the candidates along with their qualifications without their resumes or additional information about them.

It also takes issue with the word limit of approximately 285 to 500 words allowed for comments on each candidate and that only 10 working days were provided for the public to make submissions.

It added that despite raising concerns and seeking an extension on several occasions, the attempts fell on deaf ears.

The organisation added that this robs the public of a constitutional right which could assist in turning the commission around.