MPs divided over Parliament’s plan to regulate surprise oversight visits

PARLIAMENT'S initiative to create guidelines for members to undertake unannounced visits at public institutions has sparked a cautious to optimistic response from political parties.

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The move, prompted by frequent complaints, has reignited discussions regarding the balance between enabling parliamentarians' oversight of the executive for operational protocols within government facilities.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has instructed that guidelines be formulated, now nearing a compromise indication, regarding the appropriateness of individual parliamentarians accessing government locations for oversight purposes.

Secretary to the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso said Didiza has tasked him to deliver a report that will also work and common sense approaches with other nations such as Russia, India, China and the European Union.

“The oversight model envisages members to conduct individual unannounced oversight, but there have been problems and complaints from both sides,” Xaso said.

During a meeting of the sub-committee on rules recently, MPs aired their frustrations, indicating that overregulation could hinder their oversight functions, particularly amid suggestions that some complaints have originated from the executive arm of government.

DA chief whip George Michalakis asserted that unannounced visits are essential for MPs to assess the genuine conditions within state institutions.