National Council of Provinces chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has voiced her concerns about the unequal support from the administration that is received by the parliamentary House, mandated to represent the interests of provinces.
On Friday, Mtshweni-Tsipane fell short of telling MPs that Secretary to Parliament (STP) Xolile George was telling untruths when he said both Houses received equal support.
“I hear the STP has touched on the issue that has been raised so far, as providing support to both Houses, and I hear the Secretary says that they do provide support to both Houses.
“But we have continuously been raising this matter, and there seems not to be any improvements in this regard, particularly when it comes to committee work,” she said.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said they had been raising the matter to say “how do we enhance and strengthen both Houses to be on an equal par in terms of the provisioning of support, but that does not seem to be happening”.
“We feel discouraged as the NCOP. We no longer understand to what extent we have to rely on Parliament for assistance, or should we perhaps be seated there and wait for what has been decided as to what is due to us.”
Mtshweni-Tsipane’s reaction was sparked when George responded to an NCOP member of the EFF, Mandisa Makesini, who raised concerns about delays of “tools of trade” when the contracts ended and standardisation of the subsistence and travel allowances for MPs at the meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament.
George said they were trying their best to make sure that there was even support for the National Assembly and the NCOP.
“The nucleus of what is the core business of Parliament services both Houses. Indeed, it's an important issue that our support services must be even, and it must be felt equally in both Houses, and we're striving to do that.
“It's important that whenever it is not demonstrable that we receive a fair criticism on it so that we can improve, but it is not a deliberate issue that this House must be supported and that House must not be supported,” George said.
However, George said the administration was rendering support in a consistent manner, whether it was to researchers, content advisors, or other areas.
“I think we will accept that we be criticised objectively to make sure that we don't blindly do something that undermines the coherence of Parliament. Where we may not have demonstrated, we profusely apologise,” he said, as he undertook to ensure there was no recurrence of unequal treatment of the Houses.
ANC MP Bheki Radebe, who now serves on the NCOP after years in the National Assembly, said there was “a large gap” in the support given to the Houses.
“A very simple example is one coming to the communication services of Parliament,” Radebe said.
Radebe raised issues regarding the public participation that was not up to par.
“That is why these NGOs were able to challenge a lot of bills because of public participation, so I think that STP must ensure that the support provided to the National Assembly is the equal support provided to the NCOP,” he said.
Soviet Lekganyane, committee co-chairperson, said that although George indicated that support was given evenly, the signs were telling a different story.
“Once members belonging to another House raise an issue from their domain, we can't turn a blind eye. We have to deal with it and give it the attention it deserves,” Lekganyane said, adding that they want a plan showing how the matter was to be handled.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said they were all comfortable and able to discharge their mandate in accordance with the Constitution.
“But as things stand, we are not convinced. We really feel that there is more that needs to be done in making sure that matters of the NCOP are also being treated the same way as the matters in the National Assembly, because we are one Parliament that has two Houses.
“An expectation is that both Houses should be afforded equal treatment that they deserve. I must emphasise the executive authority responsible for the NCOP, that matter cannot just be brushed through, and it cannot be ignored,” she said.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za