The Taking Legislature to the People has attracted more than 1 200 people yesterday, in Kouga Municipality under Sarah Baartman District. The outreach programme, taking place in Humansdorp, resumed on 9 October and shall continue until 12 October 2012.
This programme is an annual event intended to open up an opportunity for direct interaction with Members of the Eastern Cape provincial Legislature (MPLs) and the members of the public.
It also focuses on:
- educating communities about the role of the Legislature
- promoting public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Legislature and
- empowering the public to hold the state accountable.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature has a constitutional obligation (Section 118) to promote public participation and public education in legislative and other processes. In order to facilitate such, the Legislature has to educate and encourage public participation in all its programmes thereby deepening democracy. “Taking Legislature to the People” is therefore an addition to the existing Sectoral Parliaments of the Legislature. It is an ordinary sitting of the House, which takes place outside Bhisho precincts.
This programme is conducted to fulfill the Legislature's desire to address the issues of those on the ground who have not yet achieved optimal service delivery levels. During the first day of the House Sitting held in Humansdorp, members of the public directly raised matters of concern within their municipal wards. The Honourable Speaker of the Legislature, FD Xasa, allowed Members of the Executive Council (MEC’s) of respective departments and MPL’s respond to such issues.
Various Portfolio Committee Chairpersons tabled their Committee reports, which emanate from oversight visits conducted by Legislature Portfolio Committees in the Kouga municipality. The visits were embarked on a few weeks prior the House Sitting. Annual reports of the various provincial departments including that of the Premiers Office were also introduced. The session adjourned after the Honourable Speaker, Fikile Xasa tabled the Legislature's 2011/12 annual report.
The next three days shall see the members of the public interacting more extensively with public representatives.
