President Jacob Zuma may soon have to account to Parliament on how the Presidency spends its money — behind the scenes ANC members are admitting there is a need to keep a closer eye on him.
In April, the Democratic Alliance submitted a proposal that Parliament should set up a portfolio committee dedicated to the Presidency and its two ministries — the Planning Commission and the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation.
The committee would focus on how the Presidency spends its R677-million budget and would also have the power to question the work done and decisions taken by the highest office in the land.
The ANC caucus in Parliament supports the creation of such a committee because of the expansion of the Presidency to accommodate two ministries. Also, behind the scenes, there is concern about the increasing powers Zuma has vested in the Union Buildings.
In the past, the idea that the Presidency should account to Parliament was rejected because the president is not an MP.
“But we have to remember the president is both the head of state and of government. If you are the head of government, you have to account,” said a senior ANC MP involved in setting up the committee.
The DA argues that the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) has a mandate to subpoena anyone to testify before it, and that the new committee should be able to call Zuma to appear before it if necessary.
Parliament also has the right to call any Cabinet member to account, and the president is considered a Cabinet member, the DA argues.
An ANC insider in Parliament points to the “change in [government] leadership” that prompted the ANC caucus to consider the DA’s proposal.
“We now have more space as Parliament to conduct oversight. There is the issue of the new ministries, but also the presidency’s budget is bigger now and we need to check on how it is spent,” he said.
Support
Another MP said the ANC would support the formation of the committee because Zuma “does not have proper support in the Presidency and his grip on the ANC has weakened during his first year as president”.
The MP added: “Zuma has made a lot of changes in the Presidency and has vested more power there. The people around him are his friends. The Presidency is much bigger now. This happened under Mbeki and we did nothing.”
DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip told the Mail & Guardian that former president Nelson Mandela’s iconic status had previously prevented the DA from considering a portfolio committee on the Presidency.
“I’ve only been in Parliament for a year, so when I asked why this committee has not been set up yet, I was told that in 1994 Mandela was so iconic that Parliament believed that he was beyond the need for such oversight.
“In the Mbeki administration there was a tight rein on Parliament, so it would not have gone through then.
“When Zuma arrived, it was clear this is someone who needs more oversight than most,” Trollip said.
The chief whips’ forum in Parliament has approved the proposal and a task team has been appointed to obtain submissions from political parties.
Obed Bapela, the chairperson of the task team, said the process should be concluded by the end of July.