Madam Deputy Speaker, whereas Cope supports Vote 2, today we again emphasise our concerns about what we believe to be serious shortcomings in respect of our oversight role and authority as legislature in the national sphere of government.
Firstly, we need to refocus on our primary responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution and cut out expensive, wasteful activities, which have no impact on improving service delivery to the people. Section 42(3)of the Constitution states abundantly clearly that the primary role of Parliament is, namely, to elect a President; to provide a national forum for public consideration of issues; to pass legislation; and to scrutinise and oversee executive actions - and I emphasise scrutinise.
Section 55(2) of the Constitution reinforces Parliament's role to keep the executive accountable, in that it must provide for mechanisms to ensure that all executive organs of state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it; and to maintain oversight of the exercise of the national executive authority, including the implementation of legislation.
Deputy Speaker, Cope believes that it cannot fulfil its constitutional role effectively without adequate legal advisers. In fact, a legal adviser assigned to each committee of Parliament. If it means reprioritising the budget, let us do that - let us make Parliament accessible but cut away wasteful expenditure and expensive public relations exercises.
Secondly, we have to heed the concern raised by hon Vincent Smith of the ANC when he questioned the fact that the executive - the very institution that Parliament has to scrutinise and oversee - determines the budget allocation to Parliament. Whether by accident or design, the financial deprivation of Parliament by the executive effectively undermines and inhibits Parliament in its execution of its constitutional mandate to effect proper and diligent oversight. [Time expired.]