Highlights of Parliament’s Budget Debate

Last week’s debate on Parliament’s 2024/25 budget was noteworthy as the presiding officers and lawmakers made interesting comments about the functioning of the legislature. They also highlighted some of the issues, approaches and priorities that will inform the institutions strategic plan and the re-alignment of resources.  

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Accountability of the Executive

The National Assembly (NA) Speaker urged that documents required by the committees in their deliberations are tabled timeously by the Executive. This comes as a result of increased complaints from opposition parties that documents are not received in time by committees which hampered effectively scrutiny of government and the Executive  

In the same vein, the Speaker said it would also be critical to ensure that engagement with the Executive is improved and that the quality of responses to questions posed to the Executive is able to assist Members in undertaking their oversight responsibilities in the previous administration. Committees got off to a rapid start when they met for the first time to elect chairpersons and consider the Annual Performance Plans and budgets of government departments and state entities. These meetings took place in Parliament and, due to the shortage of venues, were largely limited to 2-hour meetings to accommodate all committees. The opposition voiced their dissatisfaction with this arrangement, explaining that it did not provide genuine accountability and scrutiny justice.   The Speaker admitted that the space for committees to meet is an ongoing challenge that needs to be addressed. The availability of space for offices of Members was also raised, and Members were ensured they had the necessary tools of trade. It has been raised in some committee meetings that Members have been using their own phones, laptops and data to participate in some meetings online. Action SA also raised this and said, “sudden influxes of information prevent us from making well-informed decisions and substantive submissions”.

The UAT remarked that “accountability must not be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency”.

Committees

Members highlighted that it is vital to implement a more robust committee system where they are not simply left to ask questions to departments, and then the scrutiny is over. Parliament needs to implement a robust system of engaging the executive like in Scopa and the Justice Committee during the Thabo Bester investigation. Of course, the system is not appropriate at all times and for all business before the committees, but where appropriate, the committee chairperson should allow for more freedom and engagement from members. These are also recommendations PMG has made.

It was highlighted that it will now more than ever be important to ensure that the policy objectives and targets set by every department and as set out during the President's speech are placed on the agendas of the portfolio committees and monitored closely.

The IFP called for committees to have KPIs that, for example, require a certain number of oversight visits per year. They said committees need to drive change in the departments and state entities they oversee, and they have the power to bring about this change if given more funding capacity.

Mr S Swart from the ACDP highlighted effective parliamentary inquiries held in the past, such as the Eskom parliamentary inquiry. “That was not a case of a department coming in and making a presentation and each one asks a question. There, we were given an hour, each MP to engage deeply into those issues, similar to the Thabo Bester inquiry. And I would urge you, Madam Speaker, that we have similar deep-rooted inquiries because the pursuit of effective oversight must be tireless and rigorous, constructive and evidence-based. And it must be to allow us to ask the tough questions, but one needs follow-up questions; you need to be able to cross-examine and get to the heart of a matter”. He remarked that the rushed process by which Annual Performance Plans were reviewed and budgets passed was not a good start for the Seventh Parliament. The ACDP recommended that the budget timelines be reviewed, particularly in an election year.

House Chairperson Frolick said committees are often referred to as the engine rooms of Parliament. However, low budget allocations, high vacancy rates in senior management, insufficient office space, a later lack of committee venues, and so forth negatively impact the committees' output. Parliament surely cannot continue like this in its quest to fulfill its constitutional obligations as a separate, independent arm of the state.

Budget of Parliament

The Speaker indicated that the parliament's budget has been declining over time, which has had a negative impact on its work. The 2024/25 budget for Parliament is set at R4.43 6 billion, and it includes an allocation for the refurbishment of the parliamentary buildings and facilities.

However, it was pointed out that countless services and resources have faded over the years, and there is no explanation as to why the cost bill has not come down. PMG notes a member in a committee meeting noting that printers have been cut from members’ offices, which is one such example.

The EFF also raised concerns about health and safety standards in the other buildings on the precinct, like the Marks Building and NCOP Building. The IFP remarked on the poor wifi connection in the parliamentary precinct and in the parliamentary villages where MPs live. Action SA called for “adequate resources, skilled personnel, and modern infrastructure, which are necessary for parliament to scrutinise legislation and hold the executive to account. Without these, our ability to perform our constitutional duties is severely handicapped, undermining the democratic process and principles upon which our nation stands”. Mr W Horn from the DA observed that some of the basic services to which Members and even visitors to this Parliament are entitled are delivered poorly. A simple example in this regard is the state of some of the bathroom facilities in Parliament. Way more often than not, basics, like hand wash soap and even drying facilities, are not there. “No budgetary constraints can allow for a situation where the existing infrastructure, both on the parliamentary precinct or in the parliamentary villages, is allowed to fall into a state of disrepair due to a lack of maintenance, to the point that it will ultimately require a replacement. This is the type of maladministration that must be routed out in our management of public facilities”.

Rebuilding Parliament

The Speaker informed Members that the burning of Parliament affected its effectiveness as the House but there was recently a meeting with the Minister of Public Works to explore the possibility of getting the dome that has been used by the state for events previously, like the funeral of late President Mandela. This is an asset of the state that can be put to good use. The Minister has indicated that the dome is available, and the Department will now engage Parliament and the Ministry of Defense to ensure that we move this dome and construct it here so that from now on, we can have a structure where we continue to meet as Parliament. The EFF said the dome would cost R600 million.

Mr G Michalakis (DA) remarked that the National Assembly meeting in a marquee in a parking lot was a “new low” and felt the administration was “dragging its feet” in clearing up the rubble over the past two years and getting the rebuild going. He urged that a proper and permanent location for physical sittings of the National Assembly was urgently needed. He also urged that for Parliament to remain robust, they need to have in person contact in every committee possible. However, the Speaker indicated the reconstruction of a new chamber is on course.

The Deputy Speaker said, as imperfect as it may be, the marquee should be seen as the Seventh Parliament's commitment to serving the people of South Africa - no matter what, Parliament should be seen to be working in service of our country and its people. She said the Seventh Parliament has to regain the trust and respect of South Africans. “It is our responsibility to regain that trust and responsibility. Of course, we don't have ideal conditions as is evident today. But we have to make it work. We have to make sure that every Rand spent in Parliament makes a positive, constructive contribution”.

Relocating Parliament

It comes up from time to time, and in the budget debate, the EFF again called for the seat of the legislature to be moved closer to the location of the executive, which they said is more accessible than Cape Town and would save costs. They said the fire created an opportunity for this move.  

 

“Parliament is a representative body that carries the hopes and aspirations of the people” – NA Speaker, Thoko Didiza

 

Training of MPs

Having recently undergone induction and training, the Speaker highlighted that ongoing training is necessary to build the capacity of Members to engage in meaningful work of Parliament along with sector-specific training. The Deputy Speaker said that as part of her assigned responsibilities, Members’ training and capacity building would have to be reassessed and a thorough study was done of what the needs of Members really are and the most cost-effective ways in which this can be addressed.

The Speaker said the budget needs to include study tours, during which Members can benchmark other parliaments on their work.

Transparency

The Patriotic Alliance made interesting observations in the debate when they called for transparency for all parliamentary proceedings to allow for greater inclusion and education of the broader public especially the most vulnerable, marginalised and poorest people. The NCC remarked that Parliament is not accessible to the public.

Public Participation

Rise Mzansi said Parliament will wake up when the people of this country participate and that public participation should not be done merely to comply with legislation. It needs to be meaningful and be preceded by public education.

House Chairperson Frolick touched on court judgments criticising public participation in the Sixth Parliament, noting it was unfortunate that the judgements came after more than R20 million was spent on public participation processes but “glaringly poor and insufficient record keeping in the administration made it impossible for the parliamentary legal services, to file comprehensive papers and supporting documents with the court”. Mr B Nodada from the DA added that public hearings in the districts cost, on average, R300 000 per district and R900 000 per province. House Chairperson Frolick said the Seventh Parliament must focus on public participation as one of the key performance indicators.

Constituency Offices

The Speaker said constituency office work might need to be improved, especially through digital tools.

Ms D Dlakude (ANC) added that Parliament should strengthen constituency work and ensure that it allocates sufficient resources and time for contact with people. South Africa must know parliamentary constituency offices and know that they are not for everyone and not just for party political members.

 

“When designing our programmes, we must take into consideration the programmes of the provincial legislatures. We must also ensure that there is co-operation, consultation and coordination between the two Houses of Parliament, provincial legislatures and organised local government” – NCOP Chairperson, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane

 

Institutions Supporting Democracy

Ms Dlakude suggested that Parliament continue to strengthen its relationship with institutions supporting democracy, as their reports resolve challenges and appraise Parliament of the insights of various challenges affecting government, society and the political economy. Parliament really only interacts with Chapter Nine institutions and ISDs when calling them to account, but there are further opportunities for committees to leverage and use the reports of C9s and ISDs to hold the government accountable and keep the committees informed of what these institutions' experience on the ground. 

House Chairperson Frolick added that “Parliament is supported by a number of independent public institutions. These research reports on oversight findings and recommendations, as well as reports on audit outcomes, will be very useful for members to do their work.”

Zondo Commission

Ms Dlakude said the Commission made various findings on Parliament, and the Sixth Parliament has undertaken a comprehensive approach to respond to the various recommendations. She said the Seventh Parliament should continue to build on the work undertaken by the previous parliament. Action SA said the need for robust oversight and accountability is pressing to prevent a repeat of past failures.

Translation

This was raised often during the debate. It was said Parliament “must make affordable, effective translation services available in as many of our meetings as possible”. PA said, “Parliament also needs to use more official languages in order to disseminate information to the public and increase the public hearings on the ground. This will facilitate a more personal and culture-centred setting that focuses on the values, the beliefs, and also the cultural heritage of a specific community”.

Legislation

Mr Michalakis said Members should be capacitated to interpret laws and “not merely parrot researchers inside Parliament and the parties” to make meaningful individual contributions. The EFF called for more support for private members’ bills. Rubber stamping and the steamrolling of legislation through the NCOP in the Sixth Parliament were also raised in the debate.  Mr Nodada said, “this culture in the seventh parliament has to change so as to give the due diligence in the legislative making process and make sure that we hear all those that are involved”. He also called for legislation around coalitions “so that as legislators were able to set laws that will guide how we form government in the future to provide certainty stability”.

Petitions

The functioning of petitions was raised in the debate. It was said this operation must be prioritised – “it cannot be that we are the only parliament in the world where the petitions committee sits in the upper house that is representing the provinces and not in the lower house that represents the people directly”.

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the budget constraints, Parliament needs to set its priorities in a manner that will enhance its effectiveness and responsiveness.

Among the most impactful commitments include institutionalising Policy and Legislative Review Processes to consistently test the impact and efficacy of the policies and legislation passed by Parliament, ensuring tracking of executive performance and Parliamentary recommendations, and reviewing Parliament's programme structure to allow for more time for plenaries, committees, and work performed in constituencies.
 

Check PMG’s comprehensive review of the 6^th Parliament