DA leader and agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has been flagged as one of the biggest offenders in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet for failing to respond to written questions from parliament.
Another big transgressor is police minister Senzo Mchunu, who only responded to 27 of 74 questions from parliament.
Reacting to the report, Mchunu said the cabinet list does not reflect what has been submitted recently.
“The SAPS has submitted more than half of the outstanding questions. It is worth noting that the SAPS receives a large number of parliamentary questions on a weekly basis and makes every effort to respond timeously” .
A report by the leader of government business, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, indicated thatas of March 7, cabinet members failed to respond to 222 of the 783 questions from parliament.
Steenhuisen is reported to have responded to six of the 17 questions from parliament. Another DA minister, minister of communications and digital technologies Solly Malatsi, responded to one of four questions from parliament.
The DA has in the past criticised previous cabinets for ignoring parliamentary questions.
The EFF said it would demand action from Mashatile while continuing to ask critical questions to ministers.
According to the National Assembly rule 145(5)(a), “a question for written reply must be responded to within 10 working days, provided the responsible minister may in writing request the speaker for an extension not exceeding a further 10 working days on good cause shown”.
Ministers who did not respond to at least half of the parliamentary questions included Mminister of finance minister Enoch Godongwana, who failed to respond to 14 of the 30 written question.
He is joined by social development minister Nokuzola Tolashe, who only responded to seven of the 24 questions from parliament.
Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber failed to respond to 18 of the 27 parliamentary questions, while the minister of land reform and rural development Mzwanele Nyhontso was flagged for having failed to respond to eight of the 18 written parliamentary questions.
Trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau responded to eight of the 24 questions, while minister of women, youth and persons with disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga, and minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni answered just two of the 10 and 11 questions from parliament, respectively.
Recalcitrant ministers ... who have no regard whatsoever for the people of this country and parliament as an institution ... can spit on our constitution in this way because they know there is no central authority holding them accountable
— EFF
Ministers with perfect scores included:
- employment and labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth;
- minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment Dion George;
- health minister Aaron Motsoaledi;
- international relations minister Ronald Lamola;
- mineral and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe;
- public works minister Dean Macpherson;
- minister of science, technology and innovation Blade Nzimande; and
- minister of transport Barbara Creecy.
Electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa failed to respond to one of the 23 questions from parliamentarians, while basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube responded to 68 of the 77 questions. Cogta minister Velenkosini Hlabisa failed to respond to two of the 15 questions, while sports, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie didn't respond to two of the 23 questions from parliamentarians.
The EFF said the report demonstrates that some ministers have no regard for the oversight role played by parliament and for the importance of answering questions on various issues raised by ordinary people through MPs.
“These are just a few of the recalcitrant ministers we have in government, who have no regard whatsoever for the people of this country and parliament as an institution. They can spit on our constitution in this way because they know there is no central authority holding them accountable,” the party said.
“Mashatile, who on paper is meant to keep ministers on a leash in terms of their relations with parliament, is himself toothless and has no powers to call these ministers to order. The EFF will continue to robustly engage in parliament to hold these ministers to account.”
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