President Jacob Zuma will make his required once-a-term appearance in the National Assembly to reply to oral questions on May 17.
His deputy “is prepared to attend oral question sessions when Parliament provides a date”.
That’s according to the Democratic Alliance’s chief whip‚ John Steenhuisen‚ who said the assembly’s “lack of scheduling was an attempt to spare the Presidency and cabinet further embarrassment following the recent Constitutional Court judgment on Nkandla‚ the ‘Gupta-gate’ saga‚ and low polling ahead of this year’s local government elections”.
Steenhuisen last week complained that “two weeks into Parliament’s second term and the National Assembly still does not have dates for oral question sessions for the president‚ deputy president nor ministers”.
He also raised concerns that a meeting of National Assembly Programming Committee (NAPC) meeting had been cancelled.
On Wednesday‚ Steenhuisen said he’d “finally received confirmation that President Zuma will answer oral questions in the National Assembly on 17 May 2016”.
“We have also received word from the deputy president’s office today that he is prepared to attend oral question sessions when Parliament provides a date‚” he added.
“We will hold him to this at tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) NAPC meeting and work with the committee to ensure that he appears before the NA as soon as possible.”
Steenhuisen pointed out that “Rule 111(1)(a) requires the president to appear before the house at least once every term to answer questions from members of Parliament‚ and 110 (1) requires the deputy president to do so every second week”.
Zuma to take oral questions in Parliament on May 17
His deputy “is prepared to attend oral question sessions when Parliament provides a date”.
That’s according to the Democratic Alliance’s chief whip‚ John Steenhuisen‚ who said the assembly’s “lack of scheduling was an attempt to spare the Presidency and cabinet further embarrassment following the recent Constitutional Court judgment on Nkandla‚ the ‘Gupta-gate’ saga‚ and low polling ahead of this year’s local government elections”.
Steenhuisen last week complained that “two weeks into Parliament’s second term and the National Assembly still does not have dates for oral question sessions for the president‚ deputy president nor ministers”.
He also raised concerns that a meeting of National Assembly Programming Committee (NAPC) meeting had been cancelled.
On Wednesday‚ Steenhuisen said he’d “finally received confirmation that President Zuma will answer oral questions in the National Assembly on 17 May 2016”.
“We have also received word from the deputy president’s office today that he is prepared to attend oral question sessions when Parliament provides a date‚” he added.
“We will hold him to this at tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) NAPC meeting and work with the committee to ensure that he appears before the NA as soon as possible.”
Steenhuisen pointed out that “Rule 111(1)(a) requires the president to appear before the house at least once every term to answer questions from members of Parliament‚ and 110 (1) requires the deputy president to do so every second week”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos