The last budget vote debate for the fourth democratic Parliament takes place on Tuesday, 11 June in sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP). It is the last budget vote debate for this Parliament because a new, fifth democratic Parliament will be established in 2014, after the general election.
On Tuesday, besides outlining key aspects of the budget for Parliament for this year, the Speaker of the NA, Mr Max Sisulu, and the Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, will reflect on the key achievements and challenges of the year and the fourth democratic Parliament generally.
Parliament’s theme for this year - “socio-economic development through oversight and public participation” - emphasises the continued importance of Parliament’s oversight and public participation roles in our democracy, almost 20 years after our first democratic election on 27 April 1994.
Our Oversight Model, which we adopted in 2009, and a Public Participation Framework, currently under development, underscores this point. The approach of our Oversight Model is that oversight is more corrective than adversarial and that it is the responsibility of the legislature as a whole. The Oversight Model also proposed the development of a Public Participation Framework to enhance public participation in our work.
Public participation should involve more than the public being provided with an opportunity to express their view. For public participation to be meaningful, these views must also find expression in the Parliamentary programme, lead to concrete action and be integrated into Parliament’s core functions, including its oversight work.
In the latter part of 2012 Parliament, working together with the provincial legislatures, embarked on an initiative to develop such a public participation framework. In February this year, Parliament announced at a media briefing that the Parliamentary Budget Office is being established. The process of appointing a director for the office is currently underway.
A number of changes to Parliament’s rules have also been made and continue to be considered so that the rules facilitate, rather than hinder, Members’ execution of their mandate as public representatives.
Institutions Supporting Democracy and civil society organisations and institutions have been invited to Tuesday’s budget vote debate. The Institutions Supporting Democracy include 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 Independent 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.
A cocktail has been scheduled for immediately after the debate to allow for informal engagement with Parliament’s leadership.
Media, who do not have Parliamentary media access permits, who wish to make use of the media opportunities listed above should contact the Media Management Unit by 14.00 on Monday, 10 June 2013.
Please specify whether you wish to attend the NA sitting or the NCOP sitting and supply the following details:
- Full name
- ID/passport number
- Name of media organisation and media group
- Designation (writer, photographer, for example)
- Email address
- Fixed line and mobile telephone number
Filming
Filming is not allowed in either of the Chambers. Broadcasters may obtain a live feed or recording of proceedings from Parliament’s Sound and Vision Unit.
Photography
Only still photography, without the use of a flash or tripod, is allowed.
Accredited photographers will be supervised by officials from the Parliamentary Communication Services and Parliament’s Protection Services and will be issued with bibs, which they must wear for the duration of their stay.
All media wishing to attend the cocktail should also RSVP the Media Management Unit by 14h00 on Monday, 10 June 2013
These details may be sent to the following Media Management Unit officials:
- Nolizwi Magwagwa - nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za (083 313 1323) and
- Mlindi Mpindi - mmpindi@parliament.gov.za (073 197 1315) and copying
- Modise Kabeli - mkabeli@parliament.gov.za (082 077 4682)
