TANYA COHEN: New parliament must raise the bar on doing the job of making law
We expect our MPs to rise above party positions and be accountable to the people, who have given legislators a five-year mandate
The sixth parliament needs to distinguish itself from its recent predecessors, which passed a proliferation of laws without appropriate oversight and scrutiny. The ultimate law-making institution appeared to be caught in party factionalism and rendered itself unable to take decisions and exercise oversight. This took place while the institutions of state were undermined by state capture as parliament sat by, and court after court issued precedent-setting judgments. We require a parliament that serves consistently with distinction, plays an effective oversight role and ensures that legislation is fit for purpose and enables employment, investment and inclusive growth. Section 42(3) of the constitution states: “[The] National Assembly is elected to represent the people and ensure government by the people under the constitution. It does this by choosing the president, by providing a national forum for public consideration of issues, by passing legislation and by scrutinising and overse...
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