Parliament to resume business through virtual meetings
Parliamentary presiding officers, led by National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Chairperson Amos Masondo, today gave feedback on the resumption of the parliamentary business, amid the nationwide lockdown.
Parliament last month decided to suspend the programme of its two Houses. The presiding officers, chief whips and political party representatives agreed that the remaining sittings, would only consider time-bound matters.
Members of Parliament (MP’s) fall under the category of essential services in terms of lockdown regulations and thus continued to work in the communities they represent from 23 March to 13 April.
In a statement, it was announced that the business of parliament must resume with immediate effect, following its constituency programme. The leave period, scheduled from 28 April to 4 May, has been cancelled.
“The role of parliament remains indispensable during this period of national lockdown. The current period calls for radical alteration and adjustment to the normal way of functioning. For parliament, there has never been a more important time to work in an extraordinary manner,” the statement reads.
To obtain this goal, the implementation of virtual meetings has started in all earnest.
Parliament will henceforth prioritise a schedule of virtual committee meetings, of which the scope will relate to government departments driving the Covid-19 response measures. Guidelines will be drafted in terms of how meetings and voting will be conducted, based on procedures, practices and conventions that parliament has developed over time.
Presiding officers also agreed to donate one third of their monthly salaries to the Solidarity Fund, for the next three months.
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