Speaker names and shames tardy ministers as she reads riot act

08 March 2023 - 17:25
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National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has warned ministers of continuous non-compliance. File photo.
National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has warned ministers of continuous non-compliance. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images/Rapport/Deaan Vivier

National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has named and shamed ministers who ignore written parliamentary questions, with defence minister Thandi Modise emerging as the chief culprit with 27 outstanding replies.

Hot on Modise’s heels is former transport minister Fikile Mbalula, who resigned this week to focus on his full-time job as ANC secretary-general, with 18 questions unaddressed.

Next in line is Cogta minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who this week was moved to the position of minister of women, youth and children, with 12 outstanding written replies from her.

Lindiwe Sisulu, who was fired as tourism minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday during his cabinet shake-up, is the fourth tardiest minister, with Mapisa-Nqakula telling MPs she left office with nine outstanding replies.

Mapisa-Nqakula embarked on the naming and shaming exercise just before ministers in cabinet’s social cluster were about to take oral questions in the National Assembly, saying from now on she will throw the rule book at wayward ministers.

She said it was astounding that one of the written questions that remained unanswered by the end of the parliamentary term in December 2022, which have since lapsed in terms of parliamentary rules, had been put on the question paper by March 2022.

This was despite parliamentary rules making it compulsory for ministers to respond to written questions from MPs within 10 working days.

Written and oral questions are an important tool MPs use to hold members of the national executive accountable on their spending and policy implementations, and ignoring them undermines this constitutional mandate of parliament.

“It causes concern when the rules that provide for the timeline within which replies must be provided, are ignored and questions remain unanswered,” said Mapisa-Nqakula during her “reprimand” of ministers.

“For instance, one of the questions that remain unanswered and subsequently lapsed appeared for the first time on the question paper on March 11 2022. This is totally unacceptable.”

Non-compliance by members of cabinet with the specified rules of the National Assembly is a huge setback in ensuring a government of the people
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Other ministers turning a blind eye to written parliamentary questions are health minister Joe Phaahla with six, Ronald Lamola of justice with five, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams with three.

Blade Nzimande of higher education, Gwede Mantashe of mineral resources and former minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele are accountable for one outstanding reply apiece.

Mapisa-Nqakula said with this week’s changes in the cabinet makeup, she was expected by ministers to do away with their parliamentary questions.

“Noncompliance by members of cabinet with the specified rules of the National Assembly is a huge setback in ensuring a government of the people.

“As members would be aware, step 4 of the system of monitoring replies provides for the speaker to reprimand in the event of continuous noncompliance or lack of improvement. This step has not been invoked since the introduction of this system. Should there be no improvement with regard to adherence to the rules applicable to replies, I will be obliged to invoke step four of the system and reprimand the responsible cabinet members.

“As we all know, honourable members, there have been changes to cabinet. We will continue to bring these matters to the attention of the leader of government business [deputy president Paul Mashatile].

“I therefore appeal to the members of the executive, including the minister who recently joined cabinet, to take note of this statement.”

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