ANC performance in legislature for 2021

THE opposition’s criticism is important as a catalyst for public discourse, which is vital for democracy. However, choosing when to seek consensus and when to be strictly adversarial can be tricky – even for old hands at the game.

ANC provincial Community Safety spokesperson Mesuli Kama

After a stellar 95 percent committee meeting attendance rate in 2020, Kama seems to have been less eager in 2021, only managing 77 percent attendance. Nevertheless, he asks the right questions and probes the activities of the department he shadows but could sharpen his communication skills to more effect and not be shy to score against MEC Fritz. 5/10

ANC provincial Agriculture spokesperson Pat Marran

Marran has one of the best records of standing committee attendance, scoring 100 percent in 2021. A farming rights activist at heart, he also has an endearing independent streak. This came through in November, during the public hearings of the District Six land restitution issue. He said he was a member of the ANC, but that it was important to speak truth to power when the national government was failing its people. His caucus colleagues could learn a lot from him. 7/10

ANC provincial spokesperson on Social Development, Gladys Bakubaku-Vos

Bakubaku-Vos also scored 100 percent committee meeting attendance in 2021. She always asks well-researched questions and comes out on the side of the poor and vulnerable. She also appears to be well-liked on both sides of the political divide in the legislature and sometimes I feel this can be a problem as I don’t think she is hard enough on the MEC. The time has come to do more to drop the consensus and show herself as a viable alternative. 5/10

ANC provincial spokesperson on Education Khalid Sayed

Sayed has shown himself to be a fighter for education both within and outside the legislature, even though his attendance of committee meetings fell from 85 percent in 2020 to 69 percent in 2021. As deputy chief whip he has become a stickler for the rules of the legislature and is quick to call out members from the other side when he thinks they have broken the rules. However, in his enthusiasm to score tries against Education MEC Debbie Schäfer he sometimes drops the ball. Keenness is great but caution has its place. 6/10

• Part 3 will be featured in Friday’s edition of the Cape Argus newspaper, and later on the Cape Argus website.