Parly to issue directive on plan to monitor flood-ravaged areas in SA

Parliament’s presiding officers said they will instruct their respective committees on cooperative governance to come up with a plan to exercise oversight over flood-ravaged areas of the country.

This is in response to a call from an Africa National Congress (ANC) Limpopo member of Parliament (MP), Malesela Mokwela, for the establishment of a joint ad hoc committee to oversee the government’s response to the state of disaster.

But National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said they believe it would be better for the portfolio committees of both houses to work together.

As both houses of Parliament met on Tuesday to decide on their work for the year, Limpopo whip in the NCOP Mokwela, called for a parliamentary response to address the floods.

"As the Parliament, we are seen together, make sure we support the situation that we all know, even the province I’m coming from is extremely bad."

Didiza said, "As the house working most closely with communities, the national council of provinces should take the lead."

Mtshweni-Tsipane said a decision must be made about timing, and whether it’s best to visit the affected areas now or after provincial reports are compiled on the state of disaster.

"All of us have a role to play in ensuring that their issues have been addressed timeously, and we play a role in terms of oversight over the executive to ensure our people are assisted in a manner that’s befitting to them."

Didiza noted that the Western Cape is also battling water shortages and fires that are destroying agricultural land, which also warrant consideration.