Gauteng Speaker Needs To Improve Objectivity

Speaker of the Legislature – Ntombi Mekgwe

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature plays a critical role in ensuring the provincial government under the stewardship of Premier David Makhura and his executive council are held to account.

Speaker of the Legislature, Ntombi Mekgwe, is vested with the powers to ensure that Gauteng’s peoples constitutional rights are upheld, that services are delivered and poor governance or any mismanagement are dealt with timeously.

For the first quarter of 2015, Speaker Mekgwe struggled to apply procedures and rules that guided sittings of the Legislature, and to a large extent allowed unruly behaviour to prevail.

This caused an unnecessary waste of time, and prevented opposition parties from holding Premier Makhura’s cabinet to account.

However, after numerous engagements with party whips, matters have improved to an extent where delays are less frequent and rules are strictly and uniformly applied during sittings.

Corruption Allegations, Oversight and Accountability

On the downside, Speaker Mekgwe has been slow to act on allegations of nepotism and corruption within the institution.

After these allegations were brought to her attention, it took two months before she established a panel, with no clear timeframe or terms of reference, to investigate.

As far as oversight is concerned, the DA asked 1305 questions to the executive in 2015, of which 15% went unanswered.

However too many questions were either partially or unsatisfactorily answered, while MECs’ attendance to portfolio committee meetings remains a challenge.

Despite contacting the Speaker on numerous occasions to address these issues throughout the year, it was only taken up in November.

Decent Government Services

For all intents and purposes, the ANC continues to avoid oversight and accountability, while it seems that the Speaker remains content to allow the status quo to continue.

While she may tick all boxes as a functionary, she is by no means an inspiration and is unlikely to take any initiative of her own accord.

As long as Gauteng’s residents do not get quality and decent government services, the DA will continue to ensure that this government is held to account.

 

Media enquiries:

Mike Moriarty MPL

DA Chief Whip in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

082 492 4410

[Image source]

Gauteng Premier And MECs To Face Questions For Oral Reply

Tomorrow, 1 September 2015, DA members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will pose oral questions to Premier David Makhura and Members of the Executive Council (MECs).

A number of issues will be covered, including the Premier’s recent challenge to entrepreneurs to “become industrialists and captains of industry”, government’s response to incidents of rape in schools, medical negligence court cases, the use of celebrities in advertisements to promote e-tolls, and the commercialisation of provincial parks.

 

Click here to view questions.

Date: 1 September 2015

Time: 10h00

Venue: Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Johannesburg.

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend

 

Media enquiries:

Willie Venter

Director: Communications and Research

060 963 8260

[Image source]

DA to Pose Oral Questions to Gauteng Premier and MECs

Tomorrow, 4 August 2015, DA members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will pose oral questions to Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Members of the Executive Council (MECs).

A number of issues will be covered including questions regarding the premier’s position on the formation of a West Rand Metro, Gauteng’s readiness in case of a national electricity blackout, and the Kempton Park Hospital.

Click here to view all the questions.

Date: 4 August 2015

Time: 10h00

Venue: Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Johannesburg.

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend

 

Media enquiries:

Willie Venter

Director: Communications and Research

060 963 8260

[Image source]