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DA records reveal that, since the Zuma administration came to power, 19 out of 34 ministers
Such conduct points to cabinet's increasing disregard for accountability and transparency
The DA will be writing to the Leader of Government Business, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, to bring this matter to his attention, as well as requesting that each minister supply Parliament with reasons for their unexplained absences





According to DA records, of the 34 ministers in President Jacob Zuma's cabinet, 19 have, on at least one occasion since the current administration came into power, failed to appear before Parliament for oral questioning and supplied no explanation for their absence. Such conduct perpetuates the perception that government ministers increasingly regard themselves as above Parliament, rather than accountable to it.
The disregard shown by government ministers for the answering of both written and oral parliamentary questions has been a longstanding hallmark of the current administration, and those administrations that preceded it. This has hindered Parliament's ability to conduct effective oversight of the Executive and has served to weaken the accountability of government.

The DA's figures show that, for the 36 times ministers in the current administration have missed oral question sessions, explanations for their absence have been supplied in only 11 cases. Therefore, on two out of every three occasions this has happened, ministers have not supplied reasons for their failure to appear for oral questioning. This raises concerns about why ministers no longer feel compelled to inform Parliament when they miss a scheduled appearance before it. Do cabinet members not feel it is necessary? Or do they lack valid reasons?

A number of cabinet members have failed on more than one occasion to supply an explanation for why they have missed an oral question session. The top offenders include:

• Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
• Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe
• Minister in the Presidency, Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration, Collins Chabane
• Minister of Energy, Dipuo Peters
• Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor
• Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk

It is not a luxury, but a necessity, that ministers account regularly to Parliament. Oral question sessions present an important opportunity for cabinet members to engage directly with MPs on pressing issues -- and must be regarded as a key responsibility of their privileged position as holders of executive power.

The DA will be writing to the Leader of Government Business, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, to bring to his attention the recurring problem of unexplained absences of ministers from oral question sessions, as well as requesting that each minister supply Parliament with reasons for those absences that remain unaccounted for.