NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise says Parliament, like many organisations, is facing financial constraints and desperately needs to start a cost-cutting exercise, review spending patterns and priorities.
She said these cost-cutting measures may include curbing the size of Parliament’s external activities, reducing flight costs and benefits for ministers.
She also announced that Parliament may also introduce different methods for political party funding transfers.
Modise was speaking on Tuesday during parliament’s budget vote for the 2021 financial year.
Modise announced that Parliament has been allocated R2.6 billion for its administrative costs, core business, support services and member’s remuneration.
This is a cut of R256-million from the previous year, with further cuts of R338-million planned for the 2022/23 financial year and R296-million in the 2023/24 financial year.
She said Parliament is expected to announce the results of the search of the Secretary to Parliament, a chief financial officer (CFO) and the head of the security post.
She also announced that Parliament has had a challenge with the filling of National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)board.
“A good challenge because as the Houses we have learned not just to accept reports from committees. We have had to re-do the recruitment and placement process. We acknowledge that putting together advertisements and interviewing candidates –has not been a requirement for new members,” she said.
“We accept that we must take responsibility to recruit and place fit and proper candidates whilst not forgetting the things that alienate South Africans – ignoring gender inclusiveness, geographical spread, ignoring disability, and accepting that we are a multi-racial society that has accepted non-racism.”
She added: “This means that Parliament cannot afford ill-prepared advertisements, non-representative shortlisting’s and unprofessional interviews. This Parliament is responsible for making recommendations for very strategic positions in our country. If Parliament lowers the guard, we end up with below the par performance in areas where the poor and the vulnerable deserve protection.”
Modise further urged MPS to take a more active interest in the affairs and functioning of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, Johannesburg. “Whatever goes wrong at the PAP, South Africa gets blamed. The truth is we have not been able to properly play the role of host, we have to remedy this,” she said.
- Inside Politics
