Cape Town — The ANC has resisted the push by the DA for a parliamentary committee to oversee the electricity ministry and Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, holding him accountable for his actions and decisions.
National Assembly held a debate on Thursday, where political parties were given the opportunity to respond to a draft resolution tabled by the DA.
DA MP Kevin Mileham said that the problems causing the country’s electricity crisis would be more manageable if Parliament was “effective in its oversight function”.
“How do we ensure that the minister of electricity is held to account for his actions and decisions?
“How do we measure his performance against key milestones and objects, especially as there is no parliamentary oversight over the Presidency or members of Cabinet serving in the president’s office? The answer lies in the establishment of an ad hoc committee,” Mileham said.
“Such a committee would have the power to summon the minister of electricity and answer questions about his programme of action.”
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The DA calls for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to oversee the function and role of the Minister of Electricity.
The committee would be tasked with ensuring that the Minister is acting in the best interests of the country and its citizens.#DAinParliament pic.twitter.com/lHl5uc4cYn
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 4, 2023
In response to the DA, ANC MP Mina Lesoma said there were already parliamentary processes with regard to oversight and accountability, The Citizen reported.
“Duplication of oversight is not helpful,” Lesoma was quoted as saying.
“A review of rule 253 needs to be seriously considered in order to introduce a criteria that will be well understood and be explicit to all so we must have some rationale when we are called to debate motions on the establishment of ad hoc committees.”
However, the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) both backed the idea of establishing an ad hoc committee.
“While we optimistically call for an oversight committee, the harsh reality is that government currently treats these committees like a tick-box exercise. It is not surprising that the ANC is opposed to this committee because it is totally against transparency and accountability,” IFP MP Elphas Buthelezi said.
Watch the full debate here:
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Picture: Twitter/@Kgosientsho_R
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
