Cape Town - Deputy President David Mabuza on Thursday said he would co-operate with Parliament as the leader of government business to ensure that the Zondo Commission recommendations concerning the interplay between the executive and legislature were implemented.
Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, Mabuza said the organs of state were working on a range of interventions.
“We are mindful that Parliament will employ its own procedures and processes to implement the recommendations concerning the effective interplay between Parliament and the executive.
“These include strengthening existing oversight mechanisms over the executive,” he said.
“As the leader of government business in this Parliament, I will make every effort to co-operate with the presiding officers to put the commission’s recommendations about the work of the executive and the ministerial branches into action,” Mabuza said.
DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube had asked which recommendations pertaining to the interface between Parliament and the executive he would address through interactions with the presiding officers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa tabled a Cabinet implementation plan last month to give effect to the recommendations.
Mabuza listed some of the recommendations, saying they were crucial to accountability, transparency and oversight. “We will assist in advancing the government’s efforts to combat fraud and corruption across the public and private sector, thereby improving public confidence in the value of democracy and the rule of law.”
In a follow-up question, Gwarube asked if Mabuza would support the formation of a portfolio committee of oversight over the presidency.
Mabuza said he was not going to interfere in the work of Parliament.
“As much as I am an MP, I cannot dictate to Parliament what to do partly because I am an MP, but I belong to the executive. I must be held accountable by yourselves and I cannot dictate to you what to do to hold the executive accountable,” he said.
“We are presenting ourselves as the executive and commit to co-operate with yourselves, but let us allow you space to create your own rules to hold us accountable,” Mabuza added.
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu asked whether he had found that the recently adopted framework for the professionalisation of the public service abolished the ANC’s cadre deployment policy defended by Ramaphosa at the Zondo Commission.
Mabuza said the public service never had a deployment policy and that formal public policy concerns should not be conflated with party consultation that are aimed at increasing the capability of the state.
“The president as a leader of the governing party made submission to the commission on all issues and clarifications that were sought regarding the party’s position and practice of pursuing strategic transformation imperatives under cadre deployment.
“However, the president was not outlining the adopted government policy, but the position of the governing party,” he said.
Cape Times