CAUCUS ADOPT DECISIONS OF THE 2013 NATIONAL CAUCUS LEKGOTLA
25 April 2013
The meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus of the African National Congress that took place today, 25 April 2013, has adopted the resolutions of the Caucus Lekgotla that took place on 1-2 March 2013 under the theme: "Consolidating People's Power for Social and Economic Development".
The objective of the Lekgotla, which took place in the final year of this current five year term of Parliament, was to conduct a frank assessment of our performance since the last Lekgotla and explore the primary tasks of the legislature (and our key role within it) as the site for transformation of our society. Today's Caucus has therefore adopted the resolutions from various Lekgotla commissions, which shall serve as the movement's programme to be implemented during the period 2013-2014.
To ensure that all these decisions (which are informed by resolutions of various ANC conferences and NEC Makgotla) are implemented before the end of this parliamentary term, an Implementation Committee comprising of content advisors and researchers will be established. The Committee will monitor implementation of Caucus decisions, track legislative processes and provide technical support to Caucus. Efforts will be doubled to ensure that parliament plays its part in ensuring that the five priorities of government are implemented by the end of this term. Deliberate effort will be made to ensure that there is synergy between the national and provincial and municipal caucuses regarding the implementation of the programme of action - particularly in the area of oversight.
The Lekgotla extensively discussed the levels of ill-discipline amongst some ANC Members of Parliament, which was roundly denounced unanimously. The Office of the ANC Chief Whip was instructed to urgently establish a disciplinary committee in an effort to nip this conduct in the bud. The Office immediately established a seven-member Caucus Disciplinary Panel, which includes veterans and members of the ANC national executive committee serving in Parliament.
The panel's responsibility will be to enforcing discipline, keeping records of offences and even recommending serious transgressions to the National Disciplinary Committee or the soon to be established integrity commission. The immediate task of the panel was to compile a list of unauthorised absentees from the two-day annual Lekgotla meeting and propose disciplinary measures against those found guilty. A total of 80 unauthorised absentees were identified by the Panel. They have each been fined R1000, payable on or before 16th May 2013. The fines collected will be donated to the ANC elections coffers.
As political managers in Parliament, whips will improve their day-to-day maintenance of discipline, monthly assessment of members; ensuring strict adherence to decorum in the House; and attendance of members in plenary sittings, Committees and Study groups. Working with the panel, whips must instil discipline among all ANC MPs in Parliament. The code of conduct for MP's must also be reviewed to include expected standards and values which would regulate the conduct of MPs. The absence of standards and values in the Code of Conduct makes it difficult for the Ethics Committee to adjudicate over ethical matters. The review of the code must therefore be undertaken with urgency.
During this final year of the parliamentary term, performance assessments will also be conducted in all committees with a view to strengthen the work of the organisation in Parliament.
Lekgotla noted the current process led by the Office of the Chief Whip of visiting and assessing parliamentary constituency offices (PCOs) to strengthen their role as an effective and dynamic link between parliament and the people. As critical oversight mechanisms, PCOs are being strengthened to improve the services they render to communities.
A report on the state of our 264 offices situated across the country and interventions madeconclusion of the current process. During this final year of the parliamentary term, PCOs will play a critical role in our report back programme to the people on the work done in this institution since the last elections. We will also ensure that the work of this parliament and the ANC government in the last 20 years is communicated to the people. In this regard, Parliament must finalise the 20 year review of its work within the next 4 months.
On international relations, we will ensure that this Parliament leads the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a regional legislative body. Similarly, we will expedite the transformation process of the Pan African Parliament into a full continental legislative body. We have reaffirmed our commitment to the ANC's foreign policy on the African continent in pursuit of peace, democracy and development.
We reiterate that South Africa cannot be an island of peace and stability in an ocean of instability and strife. South Africa has a moral and political responsibility to act in the interest of its people in particular and the people of Africa in general. We therefore reaffirm our support to our government's interventions in various foreign states in the interest of advancing peace, stability, democracy and development.
On economic transformation, we recommit ourselves to the fulfilment of all ANC's economic policies, including New Growth Path, National Infrastructure Plan and Industry Policy Action Plan. Through Parliament's oversight role, we will ensure that government implements them expeditiously.
We reaffirm our commitment to the National Development Plan which was adopted by the National Conference of the ANC. The NDP is the product of the diverse people of this country and it represents our people's aspirations for a better and prosperous South Africa. We will spare neither strength nor energy in ensuring that this programme is comprehensively and successfully implemented to radically push back the frontiers of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Our people must unite behind its successful implementation and shun the populist grandstanding from some quarters, who seek to belittle, personalise and rubbish this progressive intervention. Any opposition to this plan, which identifies the key constraints to faster growth and presents a roadmap to a more inclusive economy that will address the country's socio-economic imbalances, is a slap in the face of our country's poor, whose hopes the plan represents.
On social transformation, we will ensure parliament supports the existing programmes designed to create work opportunities that will achieve sustainable livelihoods and a better life for all our people.
Parliament must ensure that the process of eradicating the bucket system in provinces where they still exist is accelerated. Attention must also be given to areas still facing challenges of water provision. Where there are pipes with no running water urgent steps should be taken to ensure that water reticulation is undertaken. Improvement in the quality of education and infrastructure of rural, village schools and township schools must be accelerated.
We fully support the finalization of the review of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to expand funding to ensure education access for needier and academically deserving students towards the realisation of free education for all. The re-opening of teachers and nurses colleges must be accelerated.
Lekgotla threw its weight behind government's programmes to root out the rampant corruption amongst public servants. The fight against corruption is one of the ANC's apex priorities and parliament must lead the campaign, in word and deed, to deal with corruption in both the private and public sectors. We will ensure that the amended Public Service Act, which will curb unethical conduct and corruption amongst public servants, is passed urgently.
Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, April 25 2013
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