Date: 07/05/2009

Source: Parliament of South Africa

Title: NCOP: Mahlangu: Remarks by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces on his election

Mr Chief Justice
Honourable members

I would like to thank you for electing me to the position of Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. I am both honoured and humbled by your confidence in me.

I wish to thank my party and my province for giving me this opportunity to lead the NCOP in the fourth Parliament. I take the responsibility they have given me very seriously.

I thank my colleagues and members in the previous term for their support. I cannot forget the former Chairpersons of the NCOP who laid the foundation for the work we did in the third Parliament.

I would be failing if I do not extend a word of appreciation to the former speakers of the provincial legislatures, with whom I worked closely. We had a cordial and special working relationship. Together we laid the ground for the new NCOP in the fourth Parliament. We will build on the work that was done, but increase our pace as we tackle new challenges.

Honourable members, the NCOP has a different mandate. Its mandate is to represent the provinces to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government. Central to carrying out this mandate is the challenging task of harmonising the interests of the three spheres of our government.

Needless to say, the new NCOP will need to further enhance liaison and working relationship with provincial legislatures. Its permanent delegates must serve as agents for promoting a dynamic link with their provinces. The work of the NCOP in the previous term provides a springboard from which to launch such a vibrant partnership in pursuit of our development goals.

The NCOP is however a small house in terms of size. In order to make an impact, we need to understand and focus on our mandate especially in the areas of concurrent national and provincial competence such as education, health, agriculture and rural development. Our approach to oversight should be informed by these realities and the nature of this house.

The activities of the last NCOP were informed by the expectations which were solicited from the provinces at the beginning of the term. These were contained in our programme 2009, which served as our guide throughout the term.

As we start our journey in the fourth Parliament, our first task will be to establish from the provinces the broad key issues they would like us to focus on during this term. This will inform our own planning, which must respond to the challenges faced by our people at this stage of our democracy.

I would also like to see us work more closely with the South African Local Government Association, which has ten seats in this chamber. This will help us understand and respond better to the challenges facing our people. Local government is the sphere of government that is at the coalface of service delivery.

As new and returning members, I hope that your induction over the next two weeks will prepare you for the work ahead. We are aware that the majority of permanent delegates in the fourth Parliament are new.

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you as permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces in the fourth Parliament. I expect this to be the most challenging but exciting term for this house.

I am hopeful that we will all live up to our responsibilities. I also hope that together we will push for less talk and more action.

Thank you