South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has appointed a member from its own ranks to fill the post of chairperson of the key parliamentary watchdog committee, the standing committee on public accounts.
Vincent Smith, who has been the key spokesperson for the ANC on the committee, has been selected as the party’s candidate to chair the committee.
The ruling party has indicated that it wishes to restructure the committee system of Parliament and the portfolio committees will in the meantime be ad hoc committees before a new system — probably in line with Cabinet clusters such as economics and security — is introduced.
It is traditional in Commonwealth countries for the public accounts committee to be chaired by a member of an opposition party. In the first Parliament, Democratic Party finance spokesperson Ken Andrew was chairperson of the public accounts committee and in 1999 the Inkatha Freedom Party’s finance spokesperson, Gavin Woods, was selected.
However, Woods resigned in protest over Parliament’s handling of the arms deal controversy in 2002. ANC MP Andrew Feinstein, who had been the ANC leader on the committee, quit the committee in protest and later left Parliament over the ruling party’s handling of the controversy. When Woods left, the New National Party’s Francois Beukman chaired the committee.
Meanwhile, former education minister Kader Asmal replaces Pallo Jordan as head of the foreign affairs committee. Jordan is now Minister of Arts and Culture.
The names of the other ad hoc committee chairpersons are Barbara Hogan, finance; Makhosazana Njobe, arts and culture; Kgaogelo Lekgoro, communications; Lewele Modisenyane, correctional services; Mnyamezeli Booi, defence; Shepard Mayathula, education; Elizabeth Thabethe, environmental affairs; James Ngculu, health; Patrick Chauke, home affairs; Zou Kota, housing; Fatima Chohan-Kota, justice; Salie Manie, labour; Mbulelo Goniwe, minerals and energy; Yunus Carrim, provincial and local government; John Gomomo, public services; Ben Martins, public enterprises; Fezile Bhengu, public works; Maggie Sotyu, safety and security; Cas Salojee, social development; Ruth Ntshuluba-Bhengu, sport and recreation; Rob Davies, trade and industry; and Jeremy Cronin, transport.
Booi is also chairperson of the joint standing committee on defence and Siyabona Cwele is chairperson of intelligence. Booi takes over from Thandi Modise who has become a member of the North West legislature. Luwellyn Landers is chairperson of ethics and members’ interests and Geoff Doidge is chairperson of committees.
Chohan Kota replaces Johnny de Lange, who has become the Deputy Minister of Justice.
Thabethe takes over from Gwen Mahlangu as chairperson of environment — Mahlangu has become Deputy Speaker. — I-Net Bridge