Parliament should run the country for the people: iLIVE

After reading through the Constitution, I can see where one of the bottlenecks in service delivery comes from. Far too much responsibility is given to one person, namely the President.

Unless the President is an alien with supernatural powers, he could hardly be expected to cater for 50 000 000 people.

Realise how many people that is: If the population were to line the road between Cape Town and Johannesburg, there would be 33 persons standing every metre.

If the President were to drive down this road, most people would not be able to get a glimpse of him.

We know from more than 50 years of government history in SA, and the rest of Africa, that giving so much power and responsibility to one leader is a horrible idea.

Parliament should be more involved in the running of the country, i.e.

have more executive authority, because they are after all the representatives of the people, and democracy is supposed to be a government of the people, as stated in section 42. (3) of the Constitution.

At local government level, the executive and legislative authority of a municipality is vested in its municipal council, which provides a government that is more connected with the people (I guess the dysfunction at some municipalities is the result of councillors not exercising their authority to employ competent management, and the public not demanding service from their councillors).

One step in the right direction would be for parliament to hire ministers directly from public applicants, based on their qualifications.

Ministers are already accountable to Parliament for “the performance of their functions” according the Constitution, but are appointed by the President, which creates confusion. All employees should have one boss.

Members of the Cabinet are already required by the Constitution to “provide Parliament with full and regular reports concerning matters under their control”. So it makes sense for Parliament to hire ministers directly.