The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has accused Parliament of undermining democracy owing to its failure to implement the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, ahead of the International Day of Parliamentarism on Friday. 

Last year, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo handed the commission’s last of six reports over to the Presidency. Recently, he slammed Parliament for dragging its feet in holding those responsible for State capture accountable despite damning allegations from his reports.

Outa points out that the International Day of Parliamentarism should be a celebration of accountability and transparency in governance but instead it reminds South Africans of Parliament’s failures. 

The International Day of Parliamentarism was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

Outa says the State Capture Commission’s final report detailed how parliamentarians fell short in their duty to hold the executive accountable and resist the grip of State capture.

“In a vibrant democracy, the role of Parliament is crucial in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance. However, South Africa's Parliament continues to fail to live up to these ideals,” it said.

Outa added that despite public criticism and the damning final report of the State Capture Commission, most parliamentarians have neglected their responsibilities, prioritising party interests over the public interest.

Outa has closely monitored Parliament's activities and it believes that the institution’s lack of interest in blocking State capture and entrenched corruption continues to pose a significant threat to South Africa’s democracy.

In November, the National Assembly Rules Committee presented its 31-page implementation plan, acknowledging the commission's recommendations and outlining steps to address them.

“While this is a step in the right direction, the true measure of Parliament's commitment to change lies in its execution and effectiveness. More than six months since the presentation of the implementation plan, it is still unclear what actions Parliament has taken,” Outa argued.

Outa says it will monitor Parliament’s performance in fulfilling its oversight duties and ensuring the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.