GROUP 2

GROUP 2

DISCUSSION ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (O&A)

What do we understand about O & A

We, Group 2, came to the conclusion that oversight involves reviewing policy and budget decisions, monitoring policy and budget implementation, evaluating departmental performance (both financial and non-financial) and ensuring the accountability of ministers and the respective Departments. Oversight is a Constitutional imperative as contained in Section 55(2) and Section 70(1)(6). These sections deal with the importance of oversight and the mechanisms of oversight.

Oversight – must however be underpinned by a value system: In our case a South African value system of non-racial, non-sexism and human dignity.

But the notion that oversight is oversight, regardless of our country‘s social and political culture – is very dangerous notion – as it will not be responding adequately to the challenges we are faced with, as it seeks to convey an impression that oversight is not underpinned by a South African value system of non-racialism, non-sexism, and human dignity.

It is therefore very necessary that we engaged the question of oversight and accountability and particularly as the real issue is whether as democratic forces we are being confronted by this question.

We should remember that to achieve our goals to account for oversight and accountability we need to have organisation and clearly worked out political programmes.

Organisation exists only on the basis of structures within that organisation – in this case the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary, Provincial and Local Government. So, it happened, that, work of another structure had to be overseen by another, mandated to do so. This is how the practice of oversight manifested itself.

What does O&A mean in DWAF

The aim of DWAF is to ensure the availability and supply of water at national level to facilitate equitably and sustainable social and economic development;
Ensure the universal and efficient supply of water service at local level;
Promote the sustainable management of forestry

The department has however 4 programmes and each programme has its purpose and measurable objectives

Programme 1: Administration

Programme 2: Water Resource Management

Programme 3: Water Services

Programme 4: Forestry

The total budget approved for DWAF by Parliament will be subdivided in accordance to the requirements of programme

The finer details in respect to various programme are available in the Estimate of National Expenditure also known as the Red Book.

To ensure that the approved budget o the department are appropriately used, and the full staff complement to be employed specially at management level

In accordance with the Annual report 2004 the staff complement at management level are bot all filled. So many vacancies exist which to the committee’s opinion will have a detrimental effect on services delivery that already resulted in the Department getting qualified reports from the Auditor-General – see page 178 table 3.2 of Annual report.

The unfilled vacancies impede on delivery and performances of the Department and committee wants to recommend that the DG should approach this challenge creatively together with other DGs’ experiencing the same problems and respond to the portfolio committee by May 2005 on how to remedy these shortcomings

What does O&A means in the committees and outside

Parliament Portfolio Committee

Oversight; the committee must oversee activities of the national executive, any executive organ of the State falling within its ambit or any constitutional institution in respect of which oversight was assigned to I

Dealing with bills and amendments or any other matter referred to it, such a looking into making recommendations relating to aspects of the legislative programme and policy formulation.

Committees also encourage open government. This enhances public confidence in government.

A strong civil society is able to assist Parliamentary portfolio committee in holding the Executive accountable.

Freedom of speech is one of the basic elements of democratic society. The form that such freedom of expression can take is virtually unlimited and it can be utilised by the Portfolio Committee provided the opinion of others is respected.

There are however some imported mechanisms available to civil society in making its voice heard, namely:

Apart from these, there are other, more informal, ways of public participation, such as writing letters to newspapers, demonstration and protest meetings.

The democratic forms of public participation can also be used, eg. Voting for political parties and\or politicians, who feel very strongly about an issue, or participating in referendum.

What does O&A mean Parliament

Oversight and accountability work together to ensure that the executive implements laws as Parliament intended and, in the South African context, that it does so within the dictates of the constitution.

In this way, the South African Parliament is assisted in maintaining some control over the laws it passes, as well as promoting the constitutional values of accountability and governance

How does the committee exercise O&A in and outside of Parliament

The Parliament Committee System is one of the most important mechanisms in ensuring efficient and transparent government and enable public participation in the law-making process and the Committees of Parliament have a constitutional obligation to facilitate public participation in the meeting of committees and subcommittees are open to the public. This means that the public may attend committee meetings and make submissions regarding legislations. The committee must oversea the activities of the national executive, any executive organ of the State falling within it’s portfolio or any constitutional institution in respect of which oversight was assigned to it.

Dealing with all bills and amendments or any other matter referred to t, such as looking into making recommendations relating to aspects of the legislative programme and policy formulation.

Committees also encourage open government. This enhances public confidence in government.