MEMORANDUM

To: Presiding Officers

From: Secretary to Parliament

Date: 30 July 2004

Subject: VISION FOR PARLIAMENT


1. In crafting the vision for Parliament, a consultative process was followed which included Presiding Officers, Members and management.

2. In line with a complete strategic framework, the following vision is put forward for Parliament:

To build an effective people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better life for all the people of South Africa

This means:

A peoples’ Parliament to transform an entire society. Establishing a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.

A peoples’ Parliament of freely elected representatives building on the foundation of a democratic and open society based on the will of the people, their participation and access to Parliament. A peoples’ Parliament educating, informing and involving the people of South Africa in its processes, and acting as a voice of the people.

A peoples’ Parliament co-operating with other spheres of government as it deepens and entrenches our democratic values. A peoples’ Parliament working with continental and international bodies to create a new democratic and participatory world order.

A peoples’ Parliament passing good laws, and scrutinizing and overseeing executive action, as it moves to improve the quality of life of the people of South Africa, building a united and democratic South Africa. A people’s Parliament creating a better life for all.

3. In order to achieve this vision, the following Strategic Objectives must be accomplished:

1. Build a quality process of scrutinizing and overseeing government’s action

Objective

Areas

Building an oversight process that ensures a quality process of scrutinizing and overseeing government’s action, and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better life for the people of South Africa. To give effect to the notion of a Peoples Contract.

Ensure delivery of People’s Contract – a better life for all

Quality oversight and accountability process

Best practices, international practices

Model, legislation and procedure

Systems and human resource capacity

2. Further build a people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people of South Africa

Objective

Areas

Further build a people’s Parliament that is responsive to the needs of all the people of South Africa, deepening public participation and involvement, and being people centered.

People centered

Deepen democracy

Responsive to people’s needs

Education and Information

Voice of the people

Include people on the peripheral

Access to Parliament

Parliament to the people

Setting up parliamentary constituency offices (pilot project)

3. Build an effective and efficient institution (Service delivery improvement programme)

Objective

Areas

Build an effective and efficient institution through the Service Delivery Improvement Programme

Improve institutional governance and policy

Implement modern systems

Improve human resource capacity

Moral regeneration (of culture) and improved communication

Provision of space, accommodation and facilities

4. A technical breakdown of the projects aimed at reaching these Strategic Objectives will be compiled.

 

Z.A. DINGANI

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

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