DEEPENING DEMOCRACY


DEEPENING DEMOCRACY THROUGH INTERPARLIAMENTARY COLLABORATION


To continue the transformation of South African society into a vibrant and all-inclusive parliamentary democracy, its national Parliament and provincial Legislatures have formally joined together to develop ways to improve public participation and strengthen oversight of the executive, writes the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.


Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures celebrate their graduation at Wits University, Johannesburg.


Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, MPL, in Johannesburg. Ms Maseko, Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature since 2008, is the provincial House’s first female high-office holder. An African National Congress Member of the Legislature since 1994, Ms Maseko is a former Deputy Speaker, Chairperson of Committees, Whip and committee Chair. She was the first elected Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and has held senior Commonwealth


Parliamentary Association African regional offices.


Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, MPL


Our duty is to continuously demonstrate our irrevocable intent to be a conduit of information from our national Parliament and nine provincial Legislatures to the people of South Africa. In the South African context, the South African Legislative Sector (SALS) seeks to strengthen a people-centred democracy by deepening public participation and representation in the sector. It is our hope that such actions will make a significant contribution towards nation-building.


The Parliament of the Republic of 52 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One - South Africa


South Africa and the nine provincial Legislatures formed SALS through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all Speakers of Parliament and the Legislatures in March 2010. It recognizes the commitment of the institutions to collaborate on matters of common interest while taking cognizance of the autonomous nature of each legislative institution. As public representatives we represent people’s interests, we therefore act as the ultimate custodians of the people’s views and wishes through the work we do as Parliamentarians. As we undertake our duties of passing laws, we are mindful of the people who elected us to power through their popular votes and therefore we act according to their wishes.


We are also entrusted with the important responsibility of ensuring that government is fully accountable to the people. In that sense, we serve as an important bridge between the people and government. As we continue to provide platforms for addressing the people’s needs,


so must we also provide a further platform to inform the people about what the government is doing. Parliaments the world over exist and function as critical pillars of democracy that represent the will of the people. They serve as important instruments to advance both representative and participatory democracy.


Towards people-centred participation


For us, it is a constitutional imperative to engage communities on an ongoing basis; yet it is also both a legal and moral imperative to inform communities about what we do. As we continue to encourage and promote public involvement in the legislative processes, the need to inform our electorate gathers momentum.


South African Legislatures continuously hold public hearings on important pieces of legislation that have a significant impact on people’s lives. Members of Parliament and provincial Legislatures embark on site


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