For the second time since assuming his current post , Minister in the Presidency and Head of the National Planning Commission, Trevor Manuel, will not be present at today's oral question session
Since the start of the Zuma administration, Minister Manuel has failed to attend two thirds of the oral question sessions at which he was scheduled to appear- displaying a clear disregard for the constitutional requirement of legislative oversight
The DA has written to the Deputy President, and Leader of Government Business, Kgalema Motlanthe, to request an explanation for Minister Manuel's recurrent absence





Minister Trevor Manuel's seat will be empty during today's oral question session. The National Planning Commission (NPC), of which he is Head, is in dire need of oversight. Despite this, Minister Manuel seems to be trying to evade being held accountable for its slow progress. Instead, it appears he has resolved to adopt the increasingly evasive- and disdainful- approach of his fellow ANC Cabinet members to the work of Parliament.

The NPC has achieved little more in its 15 month life span than finalising the appointment of its commissioners. In spite of, or perhaps because of, this, Minister Manuel has appeared at only one oral question session since assuming his position as Head of the Ministry after the General Election last May.

Manuel has offered no explanation for his absence from the oral question session he was scheduled to attend on the 9 September last year. The reason given for his lack of attendance at today's question session is that he is currently overseas.

Mr Manuel's conduct raises a number of serious concerns. Firstly, as Head of a new Ministry which has delivered little in its first year, the Minister should be compelled to come before Parliament and answer, in person, the reasons for the National Planning Commission's disappointing start.

Secondly, given that no body dedicated to overseeing the Presidency currently exists, the importance of the Ministers in the Presidency appearing for oral questioning in Parliament is that much greater. It is because of concerns like these that, in April this year, the DA put forward a proposal for the establishment of a Presidential Portfolio Committee.

This proposal has caused divisions in the ANC- with some, such as the Speaker, Max Sisulu, lending their support to such an initiative- while others, such as Chief Whip Matole Motshekga, who wish to resist attempts to increase oversight of the Presidency and its currently unaccounted-for budget of R727 million, have attempted to block the proposal's progress through Parliament.

Thirdly, Minister Manuel's recurrent absence from Parliament leads to questions about his metamorphosis from Minister of Finance par excellance to reluctant head of an obscure Ministry. It has become clear that the previously powerful and outspoken Mr Manuel has fallen prey to the power games currently playing out inside the warring ANC - and been sidelined in favour of more outspoken "Zuma-ites."

In light of Minister Manuel's repeated failure to appear before Parliament, I will today be writing to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Leader of Government Business, to raise my concerns about the Minister's conduct, and request an explanation.

The ANC's growing disrespect for the work of Parliament- and the principles that the legislature is mandated to uphold- points to a party in dire straits. This is an organisation with much to hide. It fears oversight, and favours secrecy. Minister Manuel used to be considered a credible voice among the cacophony of the ruling party. He should come before Parliament, and prove that he has not fallen prey to the ANC's increasing disdain for accountability.