The DA will not let Zuma’s ANC get away with preventing oral questions being posed to President Jacob Zuma this term. The President, in terms of the rules of the National Assembly, and to give effect to executive oversight, must attend a parliamentary session at least once a term to answer questions posed by the elected representatives of the people.

This latest attempt to prevent questions is no doubt part of an election strategy to prevent tough questions being asked of President Zuma on important issues which South Africans are concerned with. From Nkandlagate to increasingly violent protests across South Africa; from the growing rate of unemployment to police brutality, President Zuma has numerous questions of public importance to answer. We must expect him to do so.

This latest abuse of the programme has been a long time coming. On 16 January 2014, DA Parliamentary Leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, raised concerns that Parliament had not yet received even a provisional date from the Presidency as to when the President will be available to answer questions.

In response to the statement, the Presidency indicated that President Zuma would be available to answer both written and oral questions, and that “the year 2014 is no different, except for the national general elections.”

There seems to be every indication that the President has the time to answer questions. The argument that the parliamentary programme is packed with legislation is irrelevant. Extra time can be made available on Fridays and the sessions can be made longer.

The truth is that there is a strategy to turn Parliament into a ‘rally’ for President Zuma and to try and prevent real accountability on hard issues. The DA won’t allow Zuma’s ANC to get away with this. I can therefore assure the ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, that the DA will draw a line in the sand over questions to the President when we meet this week to “negotiate” on the matter – as recommended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu.

President Zuma must come to Parliament to answer questions and we will do everything possible to ensure that this happens.