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The Democratic Alliance in the North West Province has conducted a mid-year audit on the answering of questions in the Provincial Legislature by the ANC, and has come to the conclusion that the Premier and his comrades have turned the process into a mockery.

In the past six months, the DA has submitted oral and written questions on issues affecting communities in the Province but the ANC has mostly been dismissive in its responses.

To date 30% of the submitted 50 questions remain unanswered. In some cases, we have to wait more than five months to get a response.

This behaviour runs contrary to the rules of the Legislature which makes provision for accountability in government and the right of opposition to exercise its oversight function.

Residents of the NW are being presided over by a government that has become a law unto itself and refuses to account to them.

The worst offender is Premier Supra Mahumapelo himself. He evades questions or chooses not pitch up at oral question sessions at all. When he does appear, he often uses question time in the legislature to punt ANC politics and make a mockery of real issues affecting residents in the NW. His half-baked answers often reveal a lack of insight into the affairs of Provincial government departments.

The legislature is routinely being turned into a circus whenever the Premier is called upon to answer questions, with legislature rules broken deliberately.

MECs and Departmental officials have joined the charade and turned the question and answer sessions into a complete joke. The Premier’s behaviour has obviously inspired them to do so, a situation which has impaired the reputation of the legislature.

Of serious concern is that most of the underperforming departments simply ignore or plainly evade answering written questions. A good example is the MEC for Local Government who, despite presiding over dysfunctional municipalities, has failed to answer nine questions – one which has been outstanding for more than four months now.

Residents in the Province have a right to efficient service delivery and the MEC should understand that delivering on that mandate demands accountability.

The NW deserves an accountable government which is able to offer solutions to the daily struggles that they go through. Lack of jobs and proper service delivery is no laughing matter.

Issued by DA