The Constitution requires that Parliament provides a national forum for the public consideration of issues. This makes Parliament, the Provincial Legislatures and Municipal Councils the primary institutions of democracy in our country.
Parliament is committed to facilitating meaningful public participation. We see public participation as an integral part of the institution’s oversight and law making functions.
Parliament is now developing a Public Participation Framework to ensure that public participation is meaningful and not confined to providing the public only with avenues to express their views on specific issues.
The framework seeks to integrate public participation seamlessly into all core functions of Parliament so that the institution becomes even more responsive to the needs of the people. It also seeks to establish mechanisms and standards that will ensure broader participation by all the people.
Parliament is embarking on a citizen’s partnership to develop the framework. This will involve using print, broadcast, electronic and new media platforms, face-to-face public engagements and public meetings throughout the country to encourage comment from the public.
This citizen’s partnership campaign is being launched at a media briefing on Wednesday 31 October.
Media wishing to attend the media briefing but who do not have Parliamentary media access permits should contact Nolizwi Magwagwa (083 313 1323 or 021 403 2465 or nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za), copying Modise Kabeli (082 077 4682 or 021 403 3403 or mkabeli@parliament.gov.za) by 14h00 on Monday, 29 October.
Please provide the following details: full name, ID or passport number, designation (photographer or camera person), name of media company, telephone number.
