What challenges does your party face in terms of competing with larger, more established parties, and how do you overcome these challenges?

The Freedom Front Plus has a focused approach to the interests of minorities and the accommodation of cultural diversity in the current multinational state. That focus dictates to a certain measure the questions we attend to and sometimes there is very little competition in those areas. Our most important mechanism of competition is a highly developed work ethic. Each of our members covers several departments and puts in the extra effort to do so.

In addition, we do not regard all other parties as competition. There are parties with a mandate from their voters which is different than ours, yet we share some values and interests. It is easy to co-operate with such parties and individual members. Even those parties with which we share very little, are approached with an attempt to understand, even when we oppose.

Can you share examples of successful collaborations or partnerships your party has formed with other parties to advance common goals or address shared concerns?

The FF Plus is not a member of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. However, we continuously liaised with the ACDP, which is.

Regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, we met with both the ACDP and DA, to align responses.

In my own committee, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, I simply tried to create a good understanding with all Members. That led to some success in matters regarding NSFAS and around the Square Kilometre Array.

This is a question in which our whips did most of the work and I just respond from my personal involvement.

There has been criticism that parliamentary administrations are becoming more partisan and losing the unique cooperation among party benches seen in the earlier parliaments - is this true?

As the Sixth Parliament is the first I am part of, and since I did not follow Parliament closely before becoming an MP, I am not equipped for a well-considered response.

Tell us more about how Parliament supports smaller parties - is this support adequate and if not, what more could be done?

The parliamentary staff are extremely helpful. Committee secretaries and researchers with whom I worked maintained a high level of non-partisan assistance. I was especially dependent on these staff members with the Portfolio Committees on Basic Education, and Mineral Resources and Energy, where I am not a member. For these staff members, I have only the highest regard, as they supported me in several ways, without really knowing me.

I got to know the staff at the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation well enough to develop a very good acquaintance. These people are marvellous and create trust in the institution.

Chamber staff members were always professional and helpful.

My contact with management is limited and I cannot comment on them.

What advice would you give to other emerging small parties or independent candidates looking to impact parliamentary politics?

One should not overestimate the importance of an MP – although one should of course also not underestimate it. The important thing is that a blown-up perception of own importance may cause a demanding attitude towards staff – people on whom one largely depends. In addition, one should like reading, because Parliament is a printing factory.