Speakers' Forum Concludes Robust Discussion on Issues Affecting the Legislative Sector
National Assembly Speaker, Hon Baleka Mbete, concluded chairing the Speakers’ Forum this morning, in East London.
Speakers from the nine provinces convened to discuss issues of mutual concern in terms of transformation, growth and development in their respective legislatures. “The Speakers’ Forum has for the past 20 years served as a collective that brings together the leadership of the legislative sector and has operated in the service of South Africa’s democratic dispensation,” says Hon Mbete.
The meeting reflected briefly on current student protests and reaffirmed that Parliament and Provincial Legislatures are people’s assemblies. Therefore, they welcomed the fact that various sectors of society and the public at large correctly see these institutions as spaces for public engagement and participation with the processes of governance. They specifically welcome the fact that the public address their concerns through petitions and submissions that are put forward to the legislative arm of state. Therefore, they welcome the fact that students address their grievances to the relevant authorities in the Executive through their legitimate public representatives, who are in Parliament and Provincial Legislatures. Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures call on the students and other sectors of society to continue to use this platform provided for by the Constitution in a disciplined manner that has characterised the bulk of the activities of the student action.
Hon Mbete informed the meeting that Parliament has reflected on the nature of the events that took place last week, in particular, and has decided to create a policy that would ensure that Parliament is better able to deal with impromptu actions by sectors of society that seek to table their grievances before their Parliament.
This policy will address the need to balance the issues of access to Parliament and their public representatives whilst ensuring that issues of health, safety and maintaining order are also addressed. The policy proposals will be canvassed with key stakeholders in the Executive and the public before finalisation.
The meeting endorsed the proposal by Hon. Mbete to constitute a high level panel that will assess the impact of legislation in relation to poverty alleviation, unemployment and inequality.
The panel will be comprised of eminent people from the various sectors of society who have served South Africa at a senior level in various capacities. It is envisaged that the work of this panel will be undertaken in collaboration with the Provincial Legislatures who will facilitate the engagement in their respective provinces.
“I have been giving serious thought to the role that the legislatures can play in helping to galvanise attention on outstanding issues related to social and economic transformation, especially issues post the 1994 transition,” said Hon Mbete.
The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), Mr Kimi Makwetu, addressed the Forum and presented an overview of the national audit outcomes 2014/15 with a focus on the Legislative Sector’s improvement in clean audits. The AGSA commended the work that Parliament and Provincial Legislatures played through oversight work and specifically the work done by Public Accounts Committees in leading the march to ensure compliance and accountability in financial management.
The Speakers’ Forum further noted the progress in the implementation of the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act and commended the work done to improve the management of resources in these institutions as indicated in their improved audit outcomes.
The Speakers’ Forum expressed the need for the legislative arm of the state to be properly resourced and for treasury to continue to support the implementation of financial management reforms in these institutions.
Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures recommitted themselves to continuously improve their oversight in order to ensure faster service delivery.
The Speakers’ Forum adopted the concept note on the establishment and development of a SA Parliamentary Institute focusing on enhanced effectiveness and efficiency of the SA Legislative Sector through capacity building, quality research, knowledge development and management. The proposal is aligned to the existing capacity building programme that has been in place for Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures, many of whom are in the process of completing their Graduate Certificate in Governance and Public Leadership as well as a Masters Programme through the University of the Witwatersrand.
The Speakers’ Forum reflected on the need for the SADC Parliamentary Forum to be transformed into a regional Parliament. The Speakers’ Forum is resolute on the need to ensure faster regional integration with the SADC region in order to realize the objectives of industrialisation, promote people to people interaction, and promote growth and development.
The Speakers’ Forum adopted the approach to developing a new programme with the European Union. The Speakers’ Forum noted that the partnership has served to strengthen the legislative arm of the state and promoting oversight and accountability.
The Speakers’ Forum comprises the National Assembly Speaker and National Council of Provinces Chairperson and their deputies as well as the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the nine Provincial Legislatures.
