Rookie MPs in at the deep end

Parliament began its first full session since the election this week, with a packed agenda and concerns about how MPs — especially the many neophytes — will cope with a heavy workload.

Matthew Parks, who heads Cosatu’s parliamentary office, tells the FM that the new MPs, who account for about half the 400 seats, create a “capacity crisis” because of their inexperience. “It takes time to build knowledge and this is worrying.”

He says another concern is the number of MPs implicated in state capture who are now sitting on committees. Among them are Siyabonga Gama, the former Transnet CEO; Brian Molefe, former CEO of the Public Investment Corp, Eskom and Transnet; and Lucky Montana, former head of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). The Zondo report implicated all three in wrongdoing, and criminal charges have been brought against Gama and Molefe. 

With an average of between 25 and 30 committee meetings a week, the next few weeks promise to be busy; and the medium-term budget policy speech is due at the end of October. 

Political analyst Levy Ndou tells the FM the new parliament seems to still be feeling its way. “It’s still early days; we are not yet able to get the true character of the MPs and parties in the government of national unity [GNU]. There is no sense of an identity yet. I think we are in an era of anxiety.”

Ndou says that as the new MPs find their feet, debates and discussions within the GNU will become more robust.

“A number of policies will still be brought and debated and only then will we get a sense of the cohesion of MPs. What I sense from the parties not in the GNU is that they are yet to make proposals that can test the GNU,” Ndou says.

DA chief whip George Michalakis tells the FM the party plans to use every opportunity in parliament to drive policies that promote economic growth and job creation. He says it will be a robust third term. 

“We will continue to advocate for a clear plan to get state-owned entities [SOEs] working efficiently, especially through more concessions in ports and rail,” he says. “We will also continue, through the budgetary reviews and annual reports, to scrutinise how departments are spending their limited resources, ensuring that these funds are used in a manner that makes a tangible difference to the lives of South Africans.”

The MK Party’s chief whip, Mzwanele Manyi, says the party — now the official opposition — is ready to test the ANC-DA “coalition”. One of its main concerns remains the Phala Phala saga, which MK is determined to keep alive.

“We still haven’t heard from [President Cyril Ramaphosa] on this issue,” says Manyi.

The South African Revenue Service and the public protector have found there was no wrongdoing but an independent panel led by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo suggested that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer. The ANC, which had an absolute majority in parliament at the time, rejected the Ngcobo report and blocked impeachment attempts. In November, the Constitutional Court will hear arguments from the EFF and the African Transformation Movement on why impeachment proceedings should be allowed.

They have talked about new rules of the game but we are still waiting for them to articulate this; there’s not been concrete laws or policies yet

—  Levy Ndou

Manyi says the party will focus on land reform. “This is a major issue for us. We want to either bring a notice of motion or a private member’s bill to give effect to section 25 of the constitution: to achieve expropriation of land without compensation.” Section 25 circumscribes deprivation of property and enshrines compensation. In 2021, the ANC failed to get the two-thirds majority support needed to amend the section.

The ANC, says Manyi, sold out on this matter. “We will push this agenda and these are the main issues for us in this third quarter.”

In July, the minister of land reform & rural development, PAC leader Mzwanele Nyhontso, told Daily Maverick he also planned to revive efforts to scrap section 25.

Ndou says MK has yet to undertake any parliamentary initiatives beyond land reform and Phala Phala. “They have talked about new rules of the game but we are still waiting for them to articulate this; there have not been concrete laws or policies yet.” 

In the coming days and weeks the parliamentary diary includes several committee oversight visits, while three ministers —  Siviwe Gwarube of basic education, Sisi Tolashe of social development and Pemmy Majodina of water & sanitation — will answer questions in the National Council of Provinces. Majodina is likely to have to address Gauteng’s water supply woes.

Fireworks are expected in the portfolio committee on justice & constitutional development, where the minister, Thembi Simelane, will run into the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach, who has called for her to step aside due to the loan she obtained from a company linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.

Breytenbach said Ramaphosa must act in the face of what is a conflict of interest. “Minister Simelane must either be suspended or removed from her post to protect the integrity of the ministry of justice & constitutional development. The South African public deserves leadership that is beyond reproach, particularly in matters as critical as justice and constitutional development,” Breytenbach said.

Rise Mzansi’s Songezo Zibi, chair of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), heads to Megawatt Park and Prasa. He says Scopa will meet the power utility’s board and management to get an update.

Scopa’s oversight visit to Prasa will focus on the auditor-general’s reports on the SOE. Zibi says the AG audit for financial 2023 highlighted procurement and contract management, expenditure management and consequence management as areas of concern.

Michalakis says the request by Eskom to energy regulator Nersa for a 36% electricity tariff increase threatens already burdened people. “Our fight against Nersa forms part of our push for reforms in the energy sector to stabilise the electricity supply and reduce costs. SOEs that consistently drain public resources must be reformed or concessioned to the private sector,” he says. 

Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One South Africa, will be in Gauteng on oversight visits to health-care facilities, including the Tambo Memorial Hospital. The hospital has long been the target of complaints about staff negligence and decaying facilities.

Ramaphosa returns to the National Assembly this month for his only question-and-answer session and opposition parties say this time the questions will be tougher.

A major event on the calendar is the medium-term budget policy statement on October 30, which will provide insights into the government’s financial management and priorities.

Says Cosatu’s Parks: “This is critical for us to assess how far government departments, provincial governments and other entities are in spending the money and whether they are spending it correctly. We will push for raising the social distress grant, expanding the presidential employment stimulus, and preventing the retrenchment of teachers.”

We will push for raising the social distress grant, expanding the presidential employment stimulus, and preventing the retrenchment of teachers

—  Matthew Parks

Ndou says the seventh parliament, albeit barely out the blocks, has been notable for its sense of “respect and decorum”, a stark contrast with the hostility and shouting matches that marked its recent predecessors.

This shift in tone could be attributed to the leadership of the new Speaker, Thoko Didiza, who has worked to enforce rules of conduct and promote civility. As a result, parliamentary debates have become more focused on issues rather than personal attacks.

The more dignified tone has enhanced the credibility of the legislative body, Ndou says. “The decorum so far is good compared with other administrations. We are getting people who can debate and air their views in an acceptable manner and there are fewer disruptions. People want to see debates rather than noise and disruptions.”