The African Transformation Movement (ATM) said it supports calls for the establishment of a parliamentary watchdog to scrutinise the activities of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
During the first session of the seventh parliament, the National Assembly elected Ramaphosa as South Africa's next president.
He was re-elected to a second term as president.
ATM spokesperson Mkolisi Makhubo said parliamentary oversight would reinforce the constitutional mandate to ensure executive branch accountability.
“African Change Movement, as an organisation that has been committed to advocating for accountability and exposing the corruption and disregard for the law particularly pertaining to the 6th Administration, calls for and strongly supports the establishment of an oversight committee to monitor and evaluate the decisions of the South African President. We believe that this call is not only timely but essential to the process of our democratic process and the strengthening of our national government.”
Some opposition parties in parliament who are not part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) want an oversight committee to be set up to scrutinise the activities of President Cyril Ramaphosa. https://t.co/PjzuezfHyr pic.twitter.com/gACzzYKy96
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 22, 2024
Some opposition parties in parliament who are not part of the National Unity Government say the call for establishing a parliamentary oversight began with the 6th Parliamentary Government.
The body's aim is to scrutinise the activities of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
ACDP MP Steve Swart said the establishment of the body was in accordance with recommendations in Chief Justice Raymond Zondo's state takeover report.
“The ACDP supported the call for the establishment of a specific parliamentary portfolio committee tasked with oversight of the presidency. This is in line with one of Chief Justice Zondo's recommendations in the State Takeover Report. We believe that such oversight needs to be strengthened given the emergence of wildebeest in this seventh parliament. The Governor, like other governors, should regularly report to Parliament on all funds spent on the presidency. We therefore call on the Rules Committee to consider establishing such a committee.”
Meanwhile, Al-Jamaa Party argues that there is no need for parliamentary oversight.
Party leader Ganieff Hendrix said: “Our constitution gives a lot of power to the president, he can appoint the executive branch consisting of ministers and deputies and he has the final say. Given the enormous powers the president has under the constitution, I don't think a parliamentary oversight committee to oversee the work of the president is appropriate. The president has further powers in that he has the final say regarding the various committees set up to review issues that concern the presidency.”
