Parties clash over Presidency Portfolio Committee chair appointment

The establishment of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the Presidency has hit a bump after members failed to agree on the process and candidate to elect as chairperson.

The committee, created to strengthen oversight of the executive arm of the Presidency, convened for the first time on Wednesday, but abruptly ended.  

RELATED: First presidency committee meeting ends in stalemate over procedure to elect chair

Three candidates were put forward; the African National Congress nominated deputy chief whip Doris Mpapane; the Economic Freedom Fighters nominated Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party; and the Democratic Alliance nominated chief whip, George Michalakis.

Lawson Naidoo, Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), emphasised the importance of the committee, given the extensive roles the Presidency plays.

He added that the committee's role is crucial in addressing issues like the President’s task team on water and other critical areas.

“One cannot simply rely on the President and Deputy President responding to questions in the National Assembly and the NCOP (National Council of Provinces) and accept that that is the full extent of Parliament’s oversight.”

Naidoo argued that, ideally, the chair shouldn’t come from the same party as the President, but it is a surprise that members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) did not come to an agreed process and candidate ahead of the sitting.

“Parliament is primarily a multi-party institution, and therefore its office bearers should be drawn from across the political spectrum that is represented there.

“But given that we now have 10 parties in Parliament that are part of the GNU, does that mean that we now have to look outside of those for a chairperson? That is something that the committee hasn’t grappled with yet,” he said.

To listen to Myeza in conversation with Africa Melane, use the audio player below: