Political parties continue pushing for oversight committee over Presidency

CAPE TOWN - Political parties in Parliament are continuing to push for an oversight committee over the Presidency.

Although it was agreed in a rules committee last October that one would be established despite opposition from the African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), only three political parties have made suggestions as to how this committee should function.

On Thursday, ActionSA questioned Parliament’s administration about the time it’s taking to set one up.

The IFP’s call for a parliamentary committee on the Presidency in the sixth administration led to an international study tour on best practice.

But it’s done a U-turn in this administration and sided with the ANC, which has always opposed the idea, arguing functions within the Presidency are already overseen by other portfolio committees.

However, the change in the political landscape in the seventh Parliament has helped to get a vote over the line to establish a Presidency oversight committee.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza said a rules subcommittee still had work to do on how such a committee would function.

"What parties were requested to do was to give modalities of what that committee should be, because some of the elements in vote 1 are dealt with in separate committees."

Once the functions of the committee have been decided upon, the matter will have to return to the rules committee before onward approval by the house.

Didiza has appealed to political parties to speed up their suggestions on the proposed committee, with the extended deadline having already passed earlier this month.

Parliament is currently also establishing a separate committee to deal with public petitions to the legislature.