‘It’s raining ad hoc committees’: Parliament at odds over monitoring electricity minister

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) push for a parliamentary committee to conduct oversight over the electricity ministry has been met with opposition from the African National Congress (ANC).

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s appointment was at the centre of the National Assembly’s mini-debate on Thursday, where political parties responded to a draft resolution tabled by the DA.

The party has questioned whether there are adequate measures in place for Ramokgopa to account to the National Assembly.

President Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the electricity ministry within the Presidency during his state of the nation address (Sona) in February.

While Ramokgopa’s department will have no budget, there is also no parliamentary committee overseeing the Presidency.

‘Duplication oversight is not helpful’

During the debate, DA MP Kevin Mileham argued that there was no guarantee that Ramokgopa could be held accountable for his actions.

“How do we ensure that the minister of electricity is held to account for his actions and decisions?

“How do we measure his performance against key milestones and objects, especially as there is no parliamentary oversight over the Presidency or members of Cabinet serving in the president’s office? The answer lies in the establishment of an ad hoc committee,” he said.

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“Such a committee would have the power to summon the minister of electricity and answer questions about his programme of action.

“It would also have the power call expert witnesses and stakeholders to provide evidence and input. The committee would be tasked with ensuring whether [the minister] is acting in the best interests of the country.”

African National Congress (ANC) MP Mina Lesoma, however, took a swipe at opposition parties for their tendency to frequently call for ad hoc committees.

“This is precisely why you hear among particular political parties continuously calling for an ad hoc committee for a range of matters… it’s raining ‘we need ad hoc committees’,” she said.

READ MORE: ANC supports Ramokgopa’s plans to deal with load shedding

She also pointed out that there were already parliamentary processes to perform the oversight and accountability duties.

“Duplication of oversight is not helpful,” Lesoma said.

“A review of rule 253 needs to be seriously considered in order to introduce a criteria that will be well understood and be explicit to all so we must have some rationale when we are called to debate motions on the establishment of ad hoc committees.”

‘Overlapping roles’

Furthermore, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Phiwaba Madokwe said the red berets were of the view that Ramokgopa’s appointment was unnecessary.

“The creation of the minister of electricity seems like an afterthought without any clear coherent programme. His tasks are created as [the time goes],” she said.

Madokwe criticised Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet and called for an oversight committee to look at the entire Presidency rather than the electricity ministry alone.

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“The current state of affairs is characterised by confusion as ministers with overlapping roles offer contradictory statements on load shedding.

“We have always argued that solutions to load shedding do not necessitate a new ministerial appointment. In his short tenure, the minister of electricity has demonstrated competence in travelling, photoshoots and presentations.”

Watch the debate below:

‘Tick-box exercise’

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) both supported the establishment of an ad hoc committee.

“While we optimistically call for an oversight committee, the harsh reality is that government currently treats these committees like a tick-box exercise. It is not surprising that the ANC is opposed to this committee because it is totally against transparency and accountability,” IFP MP Elphas Buthelezi said.

“Let us not forget that just recently the same ANC was trying to exempt Eskom from complying with the laws and legislation designed to prevent fraud, corruption and thievery.

READ MORE: Ramokgopa more of an electricity ‘propaganda expert’ than a fixer

“If it was not for the opposition parties and South Africans putting pressure on the minister of finance they would have continued… that on is own clearly shows there is a danger here,” Buthelezi added.

Meanwhile, National Freedom Party (NFP) MP Ahmed Shaik-Emam said the ad hoc committee would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I think there is some measures in place to have an oversight over the Presidency [that] was discussed the other day… perhaps that will solve the problem.”

MPs in the National Assembly will vote on the DA’s resolution later this month.