Simon Nare
THE National Assembly has broken the long-standing tradition of appointing chairpersons of the Standing Committee of Public Accounts from the opposition when on Wednesday Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi was elected to the position.
Zibi, a former journalist, was elected with the backing of political parties that are part of the “Government of National Unity. This was against the tradition that SCOPA should be chaired by an MP from an opposition as the duties of the committee is to hold the government accountable.
ActionSA, whose parliamentary leader Athol Trollip was one of the front runners for the position, was quick to cry foul on the appointment.
“The election of Rise Mzansi’s honourable Songezo Zibi MP as Chairperson of SCOPA marks a troubling departure from our own National Assembly and international best practice. The multi-party government now clearly wishes to exercise oversight itself by deploying one of its own to head up this critical oversight committee,” Trolip said in a statement.
Trollip said the committee was critical in overseeing the public purse and the performance of government and now it has been handed to a member of the multi-party coalition government which already accounts for 70% in government.
The move by the multi-party coalition government served to potentially neuter effective oversight over government expenditure and its overall performance.
“This appointment is therefore nothing less than a reward for the leader of Rise Mzansi for their participation in the multi-party government. The nature of the role of a SCOPA Chairperson is vital, especially in the context and construct of this new government,” argued Trolip.
He added that a strong government would need an equally unbiased opposition to hold it accountable. It was evident, he said, that the 7th administration with its bloated executive needed to be held accountable by a strong, rational opposition.
Scopa is a legislature committee that acts as Parliament’s watchdog over the financial expenditure of the executive (President, ministers and deputy Ministers). It audits reports, internal audits, forensic reports and any other documents issued by the Auditor-General, as well as any other financial statements referred to them.
Over the years, the committee has been able to initiate investigations, and is empowered to call on governmental heads to account for expenditure of public funds.
If Scopa deems it necessary, it can also recommend that the National Assembly enforces punitive measures in issues of corruption.
The following members were elected to serve as committee chairpersons:
Portfolio Committee on Tourism – Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements – Albert Mammoga Seabi
Standing Committee on the Auditor-General – Wouter Wessels
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure – Carol Phiri
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Dr Zweli Mkhize
Portfolio Committee on Police – Ian Cameron
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture – Joseph McGluwa
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education – Walter Tebogo Letsie
Standing Committee on Appropriations – Mmusi Maimane
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development – Masefako Clarah Dikgale
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition – Mzwandile Masina
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture – Dina Pule
Portfolio Committee on Land and Rural Development – Tsakani Goodness Shiviti
Portfolio Committee on Social Development – Bridget Masango
Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy – Nomkhosi Mvana
Portfolio Committee on Women – Mary-Ann Lindelwa Dunjwa.
The election of the chairpersons of committees paves the way for Members of Parliament to start deliberating on budget votes and other important business of Parliament, which requires the attention of committees.
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