"If it is to be effective and impact making, oversight will have to be about more than just reporting, but creating systems that allow collaboration and joint monitoring to ensure delivery and results," she said.
The Speaker made the opening remarks at the two-day South African Legislative Sector (SALS) Oversight Summit currently underway in
Among the attendees at the summit that is being held under the theme "Striving for Oversight that Ensures a
The Speaker described the summit as a milestone for a maturing democracy and true evidence of the commitment to strengthen the capacity of government to serve people better. She said that despite varying mandates of state organs, impactful oversight can be achieved through collaboration.
The Speaker said, although the summit is organised by the legislative sector, it is a platform to bring the three arms of the state and spheres of government under one roof, as qualitative oversight that ensures service delivery to citizens requires contribution and involvement of all sectors.
"Qualitative oversight is important for all our work as it guarantees accountability to our people — ensuring greater public confidence, not only in the legislatures, but in the state as a whole", said the Speaker.
Delivering his keynote address, the Deputy President called on the sector to maintain the commitment to a better life made to the citizens of
As the Leader of Government Business, Deputy President Mashatile said he has ensured that there is constant monitoring of responses to parliamentary questions by the executive and that by the end of 2023, there was only one question that had lapsed.
He emphasised that the lapsing of even one question is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated as the legislative sector strives to strengthen accountability.
This year's summit is aimed at assessing the legislative sector's effectiveness in upholding constitutional mandates, including oversight, public engagement, and law-making. It will explore transformative approaches and strategies to enhance sector oversight and foster knowledge-sharing and an exchange of ideas on effective oversight practices with regional, continental, and international counterparts.
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