Parliamentary performance: DA presents 2010 Parliamentary Performance Audit

Note to editors: The following statement was distributed this morning at a press conference held jointly by DA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip MP, DA Chief Whip Ian Davidson MP, and DA Deputy Chief Whip Mike Ellis MP. The document that was presented at the press conference is available for download.

The year 2010 saw South Africa excel on national and international level. As a nation we weathered many a storm only to reach new heights and celebrate many achievements. Of these achievements, our proudest moment was surely successfully hosting the first 2010 FIFA World Cup on African soil. In anticipation of 2010 we readied ourselves to reaffirm in the eyes of the world what this proud nation can achieve.

This being said, as with all facets of life, no achievement would be possible without great responsibility and an extent of risk. In hosting the FIFA World Cup, the accompanying responsibility and risk is quite self explanatory. However, as all shifted their focus in order to portray South Africa in a good light ahead of the World Cup, we ran the risk of dropping the ball in the most important contest of them all - to consolidate our democracy and to serve the people of this country.

South Africa is built upon the democratic principles of government for the people by the people. This does not only mean that we all have the responsibility to serve each other but, that we have the responsibility to hold each other to account if we fail to adhere to these principles. Unbeknown to most, it is for this reason that 2010 was such an important year.

In the hype building up to the World Cup, one could easily have been swept up in the euphoria - neglecting our moral and legally defined responsibilities. It is for this reason that the Democratic Alliance stepped up its efforts to remind itself of its responsibility to provide consistent and fair oversight as the official opposition in Parliament.

All political parties represented in Parliament have a responsibility to protect the Constitution by providing checks and balances to the influence of the government, ensure that the government remains transparent, delivers what it has promised to its voters and at all times be accountable for both its actions and failures.

In light of these responsibilities, the Democratic Alliance has a proud history of providing dedicated and meticulous oversight. The Party continues to dominate the use of Parliamentary mechanisms in conducting oversight of the executive and has consistently out-performed all other opposition parties in both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. This year is no exception and by compiling its Parliamentary Audit Report, the DA wants to reaffirm in an honest and transparent way, that the Party is the only viable alternative.

Parliamentary oversight

To ensure the promotion of good governance, accountability and transparency by and of the executive, the DA utilized all oversight mechanisms at their disposal.

Written questions

In 2010 parties had a total of 31 opportunities to submit written questions to all Ministers, the President and the Deputy-President. Between its 77 members the DA submitted 2690 (76%) of the 3557 written questions submitted in the NA, averaging 40 per member.

All other parties submitted an accumulative total of 867 (24%) questions, averaging 12 per member. In the NCOP, between its 10 members, the DA submitted 229 (44%) of the 516 written questions submitted in the NCOP, averaging 23 per member. All other parties submitted an accumulative total of 287 (56%) questions, averaging 28 per member.

Oral questions

Of the 281 oral questions asked in the NA, the DA was responsible for 102 (36%). In the NCOP, between its 10 members, the DA was responsible for 25 of the 98 questions asked.

Motions

In terms of motions, the DA led all other parties in both Houses as it introduced 129 (44%) of the 295 motions in the NA and 63 (43%) of the 147 in the NCOP.

Private members' legislative proposals

This year the DA introduced 3 private members' bills. This included a draft to protect public and non-striking workers as well as a proposal on the prevention of the abuse of presidential pardons.

Members' statements

In proportion to its size the DA used every one of its allotted slots to deliver approximately 70 statements in the NA.

Policy and discussion documents

The DA published no less than 15 policy and discussion documents in 2010. These included Fighting Fit with Forensics: The DA's Five Point Plan to Fix our Forensic Science and Forensic Chemistry Laboratories and Proposals for Progress: The DA's 8 steps to turn around South Africa's delivery on the Millennium Development Goals.

 
Impact on public policy

The continuous effort of the DA in pursuing certain issues has had a direct impact on public policy. Worth mentioning is the sustained pressure by the Party on the Minister of Defense, to release the Interim National Defence Force Commission Report. The Minister eventually succumbed to the constant pressure of DA MP David Maynier, as the latter personally took it upon himself to expose the Minister's unwillingness to release the reports. As the matter was exposed in the press, the Minister eventually tabled the report on the 25th of November. Mr Maynier continues to constantly push for the full report to be made public. 

Conclusion

In terms of parliamentary oversight, the DA stands alone. Were it to be removed from Parliament, or were its members to stop using those mechanisms available to them, oversight would be fundamentally undermined.

This document sets out to indicate that the DA is dedicated to ensuring a government that is open, transparent and accountable to its voters at all times, to protecting the Constitution and the integrity of its institutions, and to putting in place policies that give every South African access to life changing opportunities, and a share of the prosperity of this country.

In conclusion, the DA is committed to delivering on the promises it has made to the people of South Africa and until it gets the chance to govern on a national level, will continue to serve this country to the best of its ability as the largest opposition party in Parliament.

Statement issued by Ian Davidson, MP, Democratic Alliance Chief Whip, December 9 2010

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