New oversight committee on the Presidency on the cards

By Ofentse Mokae
24 April 2010

A new multi-party portfolio committee on the Presidency could be established sooner if timeframes to the process on this effect are applied.

The follows deliberations in parliament initiated by the official opposition to establish a parliamentary committee to oversee changes in the Presidency in terms of its budget, size and structure.

Thursday afternoon Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Athol Trollip together with DA Chief Whip Ian Davidson, met with Max Sisulu National Assembly Speaker, to discuss the DA’s proposal for the establishment of the Committee.

Trollip says at the meeting Sisulu reiterated the support shown for the proposal at Tuesday’s Chief Whips Forum, and discussed the procedures involved in the establishment of the proposed committee.

“The DA envisages that this committee will be tasked with overseeing the work of the Presidency and its two new ministries – the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration,” said Trollip in a statement.

He says before recommendations can be made to the Joint Rules Committee on the establishment of this committee, four preliminary phases need to be carried out.

“Firstly, a draft document on the proposed portfolio committee must be considered by the various political parties. Secondly, a multiparty team will be constituted to consider its establishment,” he added.

The proportional representation of political parties on this committee will then be determined by the Chairperson of Committees Obed Bapela.

In turn the multiparty committee will report its findings to the Chief Whips Forum, which will, lastly, make recommendations to the Joint Rules Committee.

However Trollip requested that appropriate time frames be applied.

Sisulu’s office confirmed the sitting of the meeting and expressed government’s commitment to better Parliament in its work.