Parliament reports ministers for failing to answer questions

Parliament reported ministers who failed to answer all Members of Parliament (MPs) written questions by the end of 2025 to the leader of government business, Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

The biggest offender was Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson.

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Maropene Ramokgopa also fell foul of Parliament's rules, causing the questions posed to them to lapse.

Written questions to the executive are a key accountability mechanism for MPs, particularly the opposition, to obtain information from ministers on burning issues.

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However, Macpherson failed to answer 26 questions posed to him last year.

While Macpherson did not respond to EWN's request for comment, his Cabinet and party colleague, Malatsi, accepted blame for the 15 unanswered questions directed to his portfolio.

"As someone who spent years in the opposition benches pushing for executive accountability, to have questions lapse and the number of such questions lapsing is totally indefensible."

Malatsi said he had issued his parliamentary liaison officer a formal warning for failing to meet the deadlines.

He added that he would also meet regularly with the department’s Director General to determine any possible delays and take corrective action to ensure all future replies were submitted timely to Parliament.

Other ministers who also failed to meet last year’s question deadline included Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela with six unanswered questions, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni with four, and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie with two.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe each had one question outstanding.