Hafnaoui amrani, secretary general of the algerian council of the nation mr. Meetings of such committees offer an opportunity to scrutinize and report on the activities of the state. Monitoring of the implementation of cedaw in south africa 23 box 1. Anybody over the age of 18 can participate indirectly in parliament simply by voting in the elections. The south african experience james ngculu introduction the question of oversight of the department of defence dod in particular and the security apparatus in general, is an issue of critical importance to south africans. Role of parliamentary portfolio committees and members of. The cas deliberations ran parallel to the parliamentary programme, ex. Pierre cornillon, honorary secretary general of the ipu mr. This paper investigates the oversight role of parliamentary committees to. The papers practical emphasis is on new south wales. The parliamentary portfolio committee on health both houses of south africas parliament, the national assembly and the national council of provinces, do much of their work through committees made up of members from all parties. House of representatives committees jfadt africa 09. The national assembly is the house directly elected by the voters, while the national council of provinces is elected by the provinces and represents them to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government national assembly.
A policyresearch and development think tank found in established parliamentary systems. Do not quote or distribute without permission from the author. Pmg provides information on all south african parliamentary committee proceedings. Many east and southern countries, beginning with south africa in 1994, have set up portfolio committees to track the activities of government sectors such as health, education, mining, agriculture and transport among others. Project office, indicated that the oversight model had been developed as a result of a report tabled to the joint rules committee in 1999 which then created the ad hoc joint subcommittee. In south africa helen suzman used parliamentary privilege in her antiapartheid campaigning.
It begins with an account of the broader subject of parliamentary accountability, using this as a conceptual and practical context for the discussion of oversight committees. This act served as the union of south africa s constitution until 1961. Xxvi and xxvii of the parliamentary rules of procedure, the different types of committees that can be established by parliament include standing, sectoral, select and ad hoc committees. Oversight of the implementation of laws in the slovak. Best practices of public accounts committees contributing paper for the handbook for public accounts committees commissioned by the association of public accounts committees apac in south africa final version dated 22 november 2002. Deputy chairperson of national council of provinces. Parliamentary committees are one mechanism the house uses to keep a check on the activities of the government. Ad hoc committee to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25 of constitution 2020 appointment to the commission for gender equality 2019 ad hoc committee presidents submission in response to public protectors report on nkandla 2014 ad hoc committee in filling of vacancies in the electoral commission 2011. Portfolio committee on mineral resources and energy. Our index is increasingly getting popular for members and staff of parliament. Portfolio committee on women, youth and persons with disabilities. Analytical study on parliamentary mechanisms on mdgs 6 table 1. The south african parliamentary committee system wiredspace.
An analysis of parliamentary intelligence oversight in. Rules of the national assembly 9th edition 26 may 2016 the 9th edition of the rules of the national assembly contains the rules as comprehensively revised necessitating their complete. The role of parliament in promoting good governance. View a pdf version of the committee meeting schedule as updated on 18th may 2020. Parliamentary committees are, thus, now empowered to monitor, investigate, enquire into, and make recommendations relating to, any aspect of the legislative. Because the members of the joint standing committee on intelligence jsci deal with classified or top secret information, it is the only committee that has meetings that are usually closed to the public. The 24th south africaeuropean union interparliamentary meeting ipm between members of the south african parliament and members of the european parliament, took place at the south african parliament in cape town on 1920 april 2017. This act served as the union of south africas constitution until 1961. The focus of this paper is on parliamentary oversight committees and the role they play as scrutiny mechanisms.
In an effort to unpack the potential value of south africas parliamentary diplomacy, as part of the countrys foreign policy, the final section of the article considers the opportunities in linking parliamentary diplomacy to soft power, where the legislature plays a role in. Because they have extensive powers to call for people, including public servants, and documents to come before them, committees can thoroughly investigate questions of government administration and service delivery. On thursday 23 june 2011, the joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade presented its report entitled inquiry into australias relationship with the countries of africa. Idasa institute for democracy in south africa ipu interparliamentary union mp member of parliament.
It is this role and its requirements that are examined in the theoretical contribution made. The role of the parliamentary defence committees in. Parliamentary committees and democratic theory 2 the scopa decision, render it nondeliberative. These are different in the nature of their composition, have different functions and. Perspectives on south africa s parliament at 20 years. Project office, indicated that the oversight model had been developed as a result of a report tabled to the joint rules committee in 1999 which then created the ad hoc joint sub committee. Role of parliamentary committees the parliament of south africa consist of two houses namely the national assembly na and the national council of provinces ncop. The role of parliament in promoting good governance 5. Although the constitution gives our committees considerable powers to gather information through summonsing people and demanding reports,for instance, the final decisionmaking power remains with the plenary. After much deliberation the committee recommended that english be used, as most members of the newly integrated. Parliament is the place where laws are passed and where important issues of the day are discussed.
Pdf critical analysis of the oversight role of the education. The south african parliamentary committe system and institutional. South africa has a bicameral parliament two houses supported by a joint administration. The national council of provinces select committee on members and provincial. Comparison of parliamentary procedures 1 all the appointments in the seven countries will be formally made by the speakers. Ncop trade and industry, economic development, small business development, tourism, employment and labour. The anc has included leaders implicated in allegations of state capture in its parliamentary lists for the may 8 national and provincial elections.
South africa the year of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in africa. Pdf there is a prevalent assumption in south africa that parliament is guided by. It is elected to represent the citizens of south africa according to the constitution. South africa act, passed by the british parliament in 19093. The parliament of south africa is south africas legislature. The current twentyseventh parliament was first convened on 22 may 2019. Parliamentary functions and reforms and their application. List of committees committees parliament of south africa. The role of the parliamentary defence committees in ensuring effective oversight. Other aspects of the law of parliamentary privilege are found in the powers and privileges of parliament 23 constitution section 58.
Both houses of south africas parliament, the national assembly and the national council. It is the place where the views of citizens can be heard directly by parliamentary committees. The role of parliament in promoting good governance in africa. The role of parliamentary library and research resources. Most of the work of parliament is done by committees. Under the apartheid government there were only committees, their hearings were held in secret, they had.
Towards durable solutions to forced displacement in africa, panafrican parliament permanent committees, midrand, south africa, 8 august 2019. In south africa, the most important part of it, the right to freedom of speech in legislatures, is protected in the constitution sections 58,71 and 117. Frene ginwala, former speaker of the national assembly of the republic of south africa. A process whereby people andor state institutions supporting constitutional democracy in south africa exercise their collective and individual initiatives to promote their interests in decision. Anc parliamentary list includes leaders implicated in. By 1931, however, most of britains direct authority over south africa had been removed, and the status of union act of 1934 affirmed that no act passed by the british parliament would apply to south. Tools for parliamentary oversight a comparative study of 88 national parliaments written and edited by. Analytical study of parliamentary mechanisms for mdgs. By the africa center for strategic studies november 28, 2018. The parliamentary portfolio committee on health aws. These are very strategic areas for support to members and committees of parliament. It can well be argued that parliamentary democracy came to south africa little more than a decade ago, when a parliamentary system based upon universal suffrage was established in a bicameral. Ncop transport, public service and administration, public works and infrastructure.
Helen suzman reported during a 1994 interview that she was able to get around state of emergency rules applied against press reporting of violence in the country by asking questions in parliament about the subjects that the press were forbidden from. Oversight model of the legislative sector south africa. The work of the portfolio committees responsible for health in the parliaments of south africa and zimbabwe illustrates the effectiveness of. Parliament plays an important role in the life of the nation. During the term of south africas fifth parliament, from 2014 to 2019, more than 60 committees were. This culminated in the formation of a task team in 2004. This is in line with south africas electoral system of. The portfolio and select committees are established in terms of chapter 4 section 55 and section 69 of the constitution. Eu energy and environment subcommittee takes evidence at 10. How parliament is structured parliament of south africa. Rules of the national assembly parliament of south africa. Third, a common criticism of parliamentarians and politicians in general with. Parliament does its work in plenary sessions where members of a house meet in one.