Parliament’s Presiding Officers, National Assembly and National Council of Provinces House Chairpersons, Speakers of the nine Provincial Legislatures, Cabinet Ministers, the European Union Ambassador to South Africa and delegates from the European Parliament will this week hold a seminar at Parliament to discuss ways of strengthening democracy.
The seminar’s objectives are to:
* deepen engagement between the South African legislative sector, the European Union and its member state parliaments
* exchange strategies and perspectives of how legislatures can continue to be strong voices of the people
* explore ideas about advancing global multilateralism though cooperation and strategic partnerships.
Parliament’s National Assembly Speaker Mr Max Sisulu will open the seminar on Wednesday and there will be keynote addresses from the European Union Ambassador and head of delegation to South Africa Mr Lodewijk Briët and Director-General of the Europe Aid Cooperation Office of the European Commission in Brussels Mr Koos Richelle.
On Thursday, Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Mr Collins Chabane will be participating in a panel dealing with common approaches to oversight by legislatures and on Friday, Minister of Finance Mr Pravin Gordhan will be on the panel exploring a common approach to public finance management in the legislative sector.
Members of the media wishing to attend the seminar should send their details to Nolizwi Magwagwa on 021 403 2465 or at nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za, copying erandall@parliament.gov.za by not later than 12 noon Tuesday 16 March 2010.
Details required are: Full name, ID/passport number, name of media organisation and media group, designation (writer, photographer, for example), telephone number, and cell phone number.
The full programme for the three-day seminar:
Day one: Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Chairperson: Mr Mninwa J Mahlangu (Chairperson: National Council of Provinces, Republic of South Africa Parliament)
08h00: Registration
09h30: Welcome and opening address: Mr M V Sisulu, Chairperson of the Speakers’ Forum and Speaker: National Assembly (NA), Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (RSA)
09h45: Remarks and introduction of Mr Koos Richelle His Excellency Mr Lodewijk Briët, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to South Africa (SA)
10h15: Address by Mr Koos Richelle supporting the strengthening of the South Africa legislative sector capacity Mr Koos Richelle, Director-General: Europe Aid Cooperation Office, European Commission (EC), Brussels
10h45: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by SA Legislatures Mr M V Sisulu (Speaker: NA), Chairperson: NCOP, Parliament and all Speakers of Provincial Legislatures
11h15: Press conference:
* Mr M V Sisulu (chairperson) and
* Mr Mninwa J Mahlangu
* Ms Lindiwe Maseko
* Ms Peggy Nkonyeni
* Mr Johannes van Wyk
* Mr Sipho Lubisi
Mr Koos Richelle and
* Mr Lodewijk Briët
* Mr Gerard McGovern
12h00: Lunch
13h00: Welcome and opening of 2010 consultative seminar Mr M V Sisulu (Speaker: National Assembly, RSA Parliament)
13h15:
Topic one: Cooperation between national parliaments and provincial or regional legislatures in South Africa and the European Union.
Presentations: 45 minutes
Discussion: 45 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Mninwa J Mahlangu (Chairperson: National Council of Provinces, RSA Parliament)
* Mr Dick Toornstra (Director: Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union and Special Advisor for the Promotion of Democracy, European Parliament)
* Mr Jonathan Murphy (Howe Murphy Consulting: International Democracy and Governance)
14h45: Tea
Chairperson: Mr Sipho Lubisi (Speaker: Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature)
15h00:
Topic two: Building strong legislatures through strengthened partnerships and cooperation.
Presentations: 45 minutes
Discussion: 45 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Farah Maalim (Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Parliament of Kenya)
* Mr Thomas Huyghebaert (Advisor: Democracy Support Programming, EuropeAid Cooperation Office, EC, Brussels)
* Professo Kwandiwe Kondlo (Executive Director and Chair: Democracy and Governance: Human Sciences Research Council)
16:30: Closing day one, Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo (Deputy Speaker: National Assembly, RSA Parliament)
16h40: Photo session of conference delegates
16h50: Guided tour of the RSA Parliament
Day two: Thursday, 18 March 2010
Chairperson: Mr Johannes van Wyk (Speaker: Northern Cape Provincial Legislature)
08h30: Welcome and overview of day one: Mr Shahid Esau (Speaker: Western Cape Provincial Parliament, RSA)
08h45: Topic three: Common approaches to oversight by national and provincial or regional legislatures
Presentations: 75 minutes
Discussion: 75 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Raseriti Tau (House Chairperson: Oversight & Institutional Support, National Council of Provinces, RSA Parliament)
* Ms Lindiwe Maseko (Speaker: Gauteng Provincial Legislatures and Champion of SA Legislative Sector Oversight Framework project)
* Mr Collins Chabane (Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, RSA)
* Mr Claus Dieter Koggel (Head of the German Bundesrat's Legal Affairs Committee)
* Ms Shameela Seedat (Senior Researcher: IDASA Political Information and Monitoring Services)
11h15: Tea
Chairperson: Mr Nono Maloyi (Speaker: North West Provincial Legislature)
11h30:
Topic four: The role of the legislative sector in ensuring aid effectiveness.
Presentations: 45 minutes
Discussion: 45 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Robin Toli (Chief Director: IDC International Development Corporation, National Treasury, RSA)
* Mr Gerard McGovern (Minister-Councillor and Head of Operations: EU Delegation to South Africa)
* Mr Thembelani Nxesi (Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, National Assembly, RSA Parliament)
13h00: Lunch
Chairperson: Ms Mantsheng Tsopo (Deputy Speaker: Free State Provincial Legislature)
14h00:
Topic five: Towards a common integrated public participation framework �" mechanisms for enhancing public access
Presentations: 45 minutes
Discussion: 45 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Richard M Mdakane (Member of RSA Parliament, former Speaker: Gauteng Provincial Legislature)
SALGA
* Dr Pearl Sithole (Snr Research Specialist: Human Sciences Research Council, former Chairperson: Centre for Public Participation)
15h30: Closing day two, Thandi Memela (Deputy Chairperson: National Council of Provinces, RSA Parliament)
Day three: Friday, 19 March 2010
Chairperson: Ms Neo Moerane (Deputy Speaker: Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature)
08h30: Welcome and Overview of Day: Kgolane Phala (Speaker: Limpopo Provincial Legislature)
08h45:
Topic six: Public finance management in the legislative sector towards a common approach.
Presentations: 75 minutes
Discussions: 60 minutes
Panel:
* Mr Pravin Gordhan (Minister of Finance: RSA)
* Mr Amos F Mahlalela (Chairperson: Association of Public Accounts Committees, SA)
* Mr Gerard McGovern (Minister-Councillor and Head of Operations: EU Delegation to SA)
* Mr Zingile Dingani (Secretary to RSA Parliament)
11h00: Tea
Chairperson: Mr Mtholephi Mthimkhulu (Deputy Speaker: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature)
11h15: Topic seven: Building partnerships at regional, continental and international level �" effective coordination and involvement.
Presentations: 45 minutes
Discussion: 45 minutes
Panel:
* Ms Mildred Oliphant (House Chairperson: International Relations, National Assembly, RSA Parliament) HRH Prince Guduza Dlamini (Chairperson: SADC Parliamentary Forum & Speaker: Parliament of Swaziland)
* Mr Martin Chungong (Director: Division for the Promotion of Democracy, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU))
12h45: Summary and way forward Mr Obed Bapela (Chairperson of the Chairs of Committees, National Assembly: RSA Parliament)
13h10: Closing remarks and vote of thanks, Mr M V Sisulu (Speaker: National Assembly, RSA Parliament)
13h15: Lunch and departure
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
15 March 2010
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/index.php)
