2014 marks the twentieth year of democracy, and the end of the Fourth Parliament in South Africa. This overview highlights aspects of the work done by Parliament between 2009 and 2014. This is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis, but a broad sweep over some of the matters that ...

Delivering a speech at the Second Annual African Law and Religion Conference at Stellenbosch University, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s controversial statements that infusing our laws with religion would lead to a high moral fibre in society, has caused a stir over the past few days.

“I believe that we can ...

In many democratic societies, questions of accountability and efficiency are constantly being raised. As the new government begins its term and members of cabinet are appointed, people may wonder: What is the relationship between Parliament and the Cabinet? Does that relationship benefit or harm my rights? The People’s Assembly is ...

President Jacob Zuma announced his Cabinet on Sunday evening, 25 May, and much has been said about the appointments and omissions, and how this would affect the respective ministries. One issue that has been overlooked is what impact the new cabinet will have on Parliament and its committees.

Aside from ...

At a seminar co-hosted by the Budget Expenditure Monitoring Forum (BEMF), Section 27 and Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) yesterday, Daygan Eager from the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) did a presentation on what the recent budget tells us about progress on National Health Insurance (NHI).

Eager said that ...

On Thursday, 22 May, Budget Expenditure Monitoring Forum (BEMF), Section 27 and Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) hosted a Budget Justice Seminar. At the Seminar, Isobel Frye from the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute presented an interesting study on social grants in the 2014 budget and the forgotten ...

Parliament’s two Houses, the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP), have just concluded their first sittings – where Members of Parliament were sworn in, and the President was formally elected along with the Speaker of the NA, the Chairperson of the NCOP, and other relevant office bearers. ...

This year’s election results was no surprise for the South African people, with the leading party still holding the majority vote with 62%. But, what was not expected was where the decrease in voter percentage came from.

Political analyst and Professor, Steven Friedman, says if the current trends continue, the ...

The A to Z of Parliament will show new and returning MPs everything they need to know about their place of work. From attendance at committee meetings, to law-making and oversight duties, we have everything you need to know to calm those nerves and help you on your way.

One of the most important principles in South Africa is the separation between the judiciary, legislature, and the executive. However, two recent examples point to a worrying blurring of the lines between party, government and legislature.

Both have to do with the Public Protector’s report on the Nkandla matter. The ...