South Africa’s new Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, says she hopes to contribute ideas on how to ”jack up” the debate in the 400-member assembly — possibly without the aid of written texts that are then read out.
Shortly after being elected unopposed by Assembly members on Friday, the ruling African National Congress MP nodded when asked whether she concurs with the view that the standard of debate in the house in the afternoons — in contrast to the morning committee system — has become rather dull over the years.
”There has been talk on how to jack up the debates in the House and part of it is making them more natural. Let members get up and be able to talk.
”We need to look at those things carefully collectively on how to improve the system,” she said, noting concerns about MPs blindly reading their written speeches.
Asked what her priorities will be now that she has replaced Dr Frene Ginwala — who served 10 years as speaker since the advent of democracy — Mbete, wearing resplendent red headgear, said Parliament’s ability to monitor the implementation of laws is an issue of concern for her.
”We have tended to be very busy churning out the laws and sometime later getting to know the difficulties on the ground.”
Asked how that will be implemented, she said: ”Yes, we need to look at how to strengthen the ability to monitor.”
She added that parliamentarians need to be able to anticipate ”as much as possible any possible hurdles before legislation is passed. It seems to me we need to keep some link with that piece of legislation.”
Noting that she felt ”a little dizzy” about her appointment — after nearly two terms as deputy speaker — she acknowledged that there are a few weaknesses in the way Parliament operates.
”For me the one area [of concern] is the question of the ordinary people’s input into the process of Parliament. Up to now we still have a process which depends on you being educated.
”This means being able to read and write submissions to make input into parliamentary discussions. [The question is] how do you enable [ordinary people] to get information in the villages and townships to ensure that they are able to make these inputs. The question of the use of electronic media is an issue we need to pursue further.”
She said the immediate priority she faces is ”getting on” with processing the Budget — delivered in Parliament by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel in February.
”We want to go to the inauguration [of the president] and come back and form the committees and finish with it [the Budget] by the end of June.” — I-Net Bridge