Cabinet has asked Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to interact with the leadership of parliament to resolve the matter of "vexatious" questions and those that require such detailed research that they "could bog down" personnel, government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said today.

"The meeting noted queries that have arisen in a number of departments with regard to some recent questions that have been received from Parliament," Netshitenzhe said, briefing the media on the latest cabinet meeting.

"Cabinet wishes to reiterate the commitment of the Executive to uphold the status of Parliament, including the obligation of the Executive to account to this body as provided for in the Constitution, and in pursuit of good governance."

"In order to ensure that this principle continues to be realised in actual practice, Cabinet has asked the Deputy President, as leader of government business, to interact with the leadership of Parliament and seek advice on how to resolve issues pertaining to questions that may be vexatious and repetitive, require detailed personal information about employees, and demand such detailed research that they could bog down personnel and prevent them from fulfilling their other core functions, particularly to service citizens," Netshitenzhe said.

Netshitenzhe later said that the matter arose in cabinet also as a result of the recent refusal of Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula to answer questions in parliament, saying that he did not wish to compromise certain "operational" matters of the police.

"Cabinet is confident that this issue will be resolved to the satisfaction of all, within the context of Parliament's own rules," Netshitenzhe told reporters.

Separately, cabinet approved for submission to parliament the Prohibition of Mercenary Activity and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in an Area of Armed Conflict Bill, which seeks to tighten up earlier legislation on foreign military assistance that government had found to contain a number of loopholes.

Among steps taken to close earlier loopholes were a proper definition of a "conflict area as well as a proper definition of what constitutes "foreign military assistance", said Netshitenzhe, citing as an example the matter of South African security personnel working in war-torn Iraq.

"The new legislation is trying to close gaps in earlier legislation rather than introduce new principles," Netshitenzhe said. - BuaNews