South Africa’s Parliament has frequently failed to live up to the constitutional obligations - to represent the public - and has repeatedly shown a weakness in holding the President and his Cabinet to account. Accountability is the foundation of a representative government. It provides a check on the leadership, ensuring that promises made during election campaigns and through policy priorities are achieved.

Thirty-seven civil society organisations, led by the Parliament Watch alliance, have called on MPs as elected representatives to be accountable to the people of South Africa. They also call on MPs to vote in accordance with their role to represent public views irrespective of political party affiliation in the Motion of No Confidence tabled against President Jacob Zuma scheduled to take place on 8 August 2017.

According to Parliament Watch the Motion of No Confidence is an opportunity for MPs to restore the public trust in them, in Parliament and in government.

Parliament Watch encourages members of the public to communicate with MPs to express their views and voice the public’s lack of confidence in the President in the Vote of No Confidence. An online platform has been created at representme.co.za for this purpose.

Parliament Watch is a coalition of civil society, activists and interested stakeholders who engage on a range of strategies to advocate for the speaker and members of parliament to fulfil their mandates, without compromise, in the interest of the country at large.

 

Issued by Right to Know