MPs are representatives of the public, not political parties
IT is unacceptable that MPs are being threatened for doing the mandate of the public. The political parties we elected deployed candidates to Parliament to do the oversight and accountability of the executive and its departments, on behalf of the public.
MPs are therefore the representatives of the public, not the political parties that deployed them.
The question we must ask is: Are we going to allow the political parties to dismiss our representatives in Parliament without our consultative engagements, considering the no- confidence vote in Parliament?
It may be so, but as the public we must make sure that the people are governing, through the responsiveness of our MPs, MPLs, councillors and meetings with the public – ward meetings, provincial meetings and Parliament meetings.
I am disturbed by the death threats against advocate Makhosi Khoza, chairperson of the portfolio committee on public administration of Parliament, made by hospital executives of a hospital.
The people must defend this constitutional democratic dispensation and its evolution so that there is accountability.
The SAPS or Hawks must find these hospital executives and the law must take its course. It is easy to use the resources of the state to pursue corrupt agendas – think of the presidential VIP protection of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma while canvass to be elected as the president of the ANC.
It is easy to blame the system that led to the situation, what is important is doing something to change the situation. We must defend the MPs, MPLs and councillors who are doing our work. We must demand the arrest of executives who threaten our MP, Makhosi Khoza, and demand that the National Assembly be dissolved or allow the vote of no confidence in Parliament to be a secret ballot to defend MPs’ capacity as public representatives.
Our governance system is shrouded by the fact that the legislature’s 400 MPs elected the executive (president) for the more than 50 million people of our country.
How about the public electing the president of the country? Elect political parties to do oversight of the president and executive, making the National Assembly independent – the Speaker independently elected to chair the NA.
However, we must not forget that independence of the Speaker is still within the mandate of the legislature.
The independence of the legislature from the executive is vital so that the recommendation of the DGs and Scopa can be implemented (fruitless, wasteful and irregular expenditure corrections).
The portfolio committees I monitored showed annual reports by departments were continually showing irregular expenditure with the same recommendations advanced the previous year.
This means that the previous recommendations were not followed.
Is the public going to pay people who are not doing their jobs?
Constitutions and laws are made by the people in particular situations and changes by the people in changing situations, ie, the electoral system, separation of powers (executive, legislature and judiciary) must be reviewed.
It is this judiciary with courts, SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority that must seriously look at threats against Khoza. #PeopleMustGovern! OMAZI MAKAZI! Mhlobo Gunguluzi Gugulethu