Democracy

Democracy watchdogs in spotlight

Shaun Benton

25 January 2007

A parliamentary committee led by former Cabinet minister Kader Asmal is to review South Africa's so-called "Chapter 9 institutions" over the next five months in order to evaluate their "effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness" in supporting the country's constitutional democracy.

Starting on Wednesday, the state-funded institutions set up to support South Africa's democracy, as well as the Public Service Commission, will be reviewed under a mandate granted to a multi-party 12-member committee by Parliament in September.

The institutions are:

Auditor-General
Commission for Gender Equality
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities
Electoral Commission
Financial and Fiscal Commission
Independent Communications Authority of SA
Pan South African Language Board
Public Protector
SA Human Rights Commission
Youth Commission

They are named Chapter 9 institutions as they were created under Chapter 9 of South Africa's Constitution as independent, albeit state-funded, organisations tasked with strengthening constitutional democracy in SA.

The institutions have already been required to complete a self-assessment questionnaire compiled by the committee, and members of the public have also been invited to make submissions.

The committee comprises members of the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and other parties represented in Parliament.

It will also examine as many as 18 other associated bodies for which Parliament plays a role in oversight and the appointment of personnel.

Speaking to reporters in Cape Town on Wednesday, committee chair Kader Asmal said all the proceedings would be open to the media and the public.

There would be "no hidden hand," Asmal said, as the committee seeks to establish whether these institutions are offering "value for money," with issues such as the evenness of salaries and budgets across the various bodies being looked at.

Under the mandate given by Parliament, the committee will assess whether the institution's "consumption of resources ... is justified in relation to their outputs and contribution to democracy", as well as whether their mandates "are suitable for the South Africa environment".

The committee would be "non-partisan" in its deliberations, Asmal said, as it tries to work out "as objectively as possible what is happening in fact".

The committee will deliberate until 30 June, after which it will submit a report to Parliament.

Source: BuaNews