South Africa’s (SA) newly established Portfolio Committee on the Presidency will operate transparently and maintain strict parliamentary oversight of the Presidency, according to its newly elected Chairperson.
The committee was created by Parliament of SA to provide direct oversight of the President and the Presidency. However, its formation has attracted criticism, as the governing African National Congress (ANC) now chairs a committee responsible for overseeing an ANC-led Presidency.
Committee Chairperson Dorris Mpapane said the structure of the committee will ensure accountability and cross-party scrutiny.
“Being Chairperson of this committee does not change anything because it is a multi-party committee. Nothing will be compromised. Our role in Parliament is to oversee the Presidency and ensure accountability, just like in all other parliamentary committees,” Mpapane said.
She added that the committee’s work will be conducted in the public eye.
“Everything that will be done in this committee, South Africans will be watching. Let them be the judge of that,” she said.
The committee is expected to play a key role in strengthening parliamentary oversight of executive power in SA.
–ChannelAfrica–
