The people shall govern mantra informs our approach to state power as the ANC. Our 54th Water -shed National Conference asserted that the attainment of power by the ANC is a means to fulfil the will of the people and ensure better life for all. We are here as the representatives of the people, we are not here for ourselves and our sake. The will of the people is fulfilled when we represent their issues but also allow them
to be their own liberators through proper conditions of participatory democracy.
Our commitment to the sixth Parliament, taking forward the work of those who came before us, we must strive to be the kind of MPs that are known to hold the highest standard of behaviour and conduct so that we do not embarrass and shame those that elected us as we have seen last week in the budget speech. To regain the confidence of our people and be their true tribune, we must immunise that act against any behaviour of intolerance as we have seen. In the interest of our people we are committed to continue in raising our work ethics and take oversight work to the next level. In this regard we also want to recognise and take note of the report by Parliament Watch, a group of civil society organisations in which they submit a critique on the performance of the Fifth Parliament. Where we need to improve with resources permitting, we will do so. Hon Speaker, as the leader of this institution ...
IsiXhosa:
... ubambisene nomBhexeshi oyiNtloko, wePalamente...
English:
...the ANC has mandated us to have a keen interest in attending to some key areas that need improvement going forward. The key areas that need improvement going forward include some of the following: We have got to answer the question as you have indicated, is this legislature properly configured, to help rise to our task of effective oversight to restore our critical role as part of the three arms of the state.
After 25 years there is certainly a need to re-think issues relating to the efficacy of this institution. We can no longer just mundane tasks of rules review, something else must give. Is Parliament properly resourced to fulfil its mandate? A national asset like cannot play a second role to legislature on resourcing its work. We need to find creative ways to support out greatest enablers including staff. Again, is it optionally functioning, to enable it to work co-operatively with the other two arms of the state, the judiciary and the executive? One example that we are going to need to talk about deal with is this: Is it proper that from the end of November up to the 20 February we are away from this House on recess. Everything else
gets to be congested; those are some of the thing that we might need to look into as part of enhancing participatory democracy. Should we not start to utilise in creative ways the Parliamentary Constituency Offices and make them the real pals of the community worth. It is good that NGOs come here and engage with us but we need to extend our reach to those community based organisations that have no means and resources to be here and the best way to do that is how we are going to utilise our own Parliamentary Constituency Offices.
I must end ho Speaker, by indicating that as the ANC, we are fully aware and alive to the fact that even the critique of the Parliamentary Watch is putting a lot of pressure on the ANC because there is an added expectation on us to be the leader of society in everything else that we do. I therefore hon Speaker, want to pause. Thank you very much. [Applause].