The Office of the Speaker and representatives of Institutions Supporting Democracy met today in the first meeting of its kind to hear what the concerns are of these Institutions and to agree on a way forward to address them.
Issues raised at the meeting included those of oversight and accountability, protecting the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of these institutions, assessing the relevance of some in their current form and the processing of strategic plans, annual reports and special reports submitted by these institutions.
A unit to coordinate the work of these Institutions has been established in the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly. The office will provide a range of services, including monitoring the implementation of recommendations from these institutions and standardising budget allocations to commissions. Some commissions receive their budgets from government departments and concern was expressed that this could compromise their independence.
The establishment of the Office on Institutions Supporting Democracy (OISD) was one of the recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee on Review of Chapter 9 and Associated Institutions, established by the National Assembly in 2006.
The broad purpose of the OISD is to coordinate interaction between the National Assembly and the Institutions Supporting Democracy and to provide support to Parliament’s Presiding Officers and committees, concerned with the work of the Institutions.
Chapter 9 Institutions and associated institutions were established to strengthen constitutional democracy in our country. The constitution obliges the National Assembly to provide mechanisms to maintain oversight of any organ of state (Sec. 55(2) (b) (ii). The institutions were established to strengthen constitutional democracy and are accountable to the National Assembly. They must report on their activities and the performance of their functions to the National Assembly at least once a year (Sec. 181(5). Other similarly situated Statutory Bodies are also accountable to the National Assembly as provided in the respective establishing pieces of legislation. The NA performs its oversight and accountability functions through Portfolio Committees.
Today’s meeting was attended by National Assembly Speaker Mr Max Sisulu, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo, National Assembly House Chairperson of Committees Mr Obed Bapela, House Chairperson responsible for Internal Arrangements Mr Ben Skosana, House Chairperson:International Relations Ms Mildred Oliphant, National Assembly Portfolio Committees and representatives of the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, the Commission on Gender Equality, the Auditor General, the Electoral Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Pan-South African Language Board, the Financial and Fiscal Commission, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and the National Youth Development Agency.
