The National Assembly has adopted an amendment to the House's Rules and Guidelines for Petitions, which now allows members of the public to directly approach Parliament, fostering a more open and transparent legislative body.

Previously, public petitions required a Member of Parliament (MP) to act as an intermediary between the House and a member of the public.

Before this amendment, the provision allowing members of the public to submit petitions directly, without an MP as an intermediary, was exclusive to the National Council of Provinces.

In a statement on Friday, Parliament said the amendment “represents a profound commitment and effective mechanism for swift and direct interventions in addressing service delivery challenges and other public concerns relating to government’s obligations to the public”.

A key development in the petitions process is the introduction of a Petitions Framework which applies to both Houses of Parliament and creates a definitive period of about three months for processing each petition.

“This responsiveness underlines Parliament's endeavour to continuously enhance its oversight and accountability interventions, ensuring deeper engagement with the issues affecting its citizens and their quality of life,” Parliament added.

It said that by allowing the direct submission of petitions, subject to specific conditions, the National Assembly was dismantling barriers to democratic participation, fostering a more transparent and accessible legislative process.

The petitions should seek action within the ambit of the House, the national government, or a Minister's purview, and must not be a repeat of previously considered matters unless new, impactful information arises, Parliament explained.

Petitions should also not interfere with ongoing legal proceedings or seek to overturn legal judgments and must not be a matter currently under scrutiny in the National Assembly.

“This amendment redefines the role of the National Assembly, underscoring its evolution into an activist, people-oriented body. It ensures that the voice of the public is not just heard but promptly acted upon, symbolising a new era in democratic participation,” Parliament said.