Principles of public participation must be realised when conducting oversight work, to ensure that members of society also "own" the work done by the NCOP.
In the same workshop you mentioned the need to establish a relationship with the office of the Auditor-General, to be better equipped to do oversight.
Some of the oversight tools available at our disposal include the following: Site visits by the NCOP delegations to various areas; Public Hearings on legislation; Briefings to Committees by departments and relevant entities; Questions for oral and written reply to the Executive; and Specific programmes such as Taking Parliament to the People and Provincial weeks.
It is simple: the NCOP is a place at national level where representatives of the three spheres of government meet and where joint oversight in the spirit of intergovernmental relations and cooperative government is enshrined in the Constitution. So, it is not whether there is a distance or not between one sphere and the other, but whether we are able to look at issues that affect service delivery together. That is the advantage with the NCOP approach. My office is there to promote this principle of integrated approach to oversight.
The tourism industry has high expectations for next year. Ensuring tourism-friendly public transport and seeing to the safety of tourists, top the SA Tourism list. The Department of Transport says it is convinced that the rail system will be able to cope with the influx of soccer fans for the World Cup.
However, the country's public transport system is plagued by issues, such as an inefficient and ageing railway system, and an unregulated taxi industry. Calls for a touristfriendly public transport system seem to have sparked additional problems rather than offer solutions.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Mr Donald Gumede, says it is overstating matters to claim that South Africa is dangerous for tourists: "There is nothing out of the ordinary compared to other countries; South Africa is safer than most destinations", Mr Gumede said. Part of the plan is to develop a tourism safety programme, implemented jointly by the Department of Tourism and the South African Police Service (SAPS), which will address safety and security issues related to the World Cup. SAPS is working on the National Safety and Security Framework for 2010, and the International Marketing Council is one of the agencies identified to help "turn the tide" overseas on perceptions regarding crime in South Africa.
There is concern about fraud and corruption among airport staff, and both the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and airport management have assured the Parliamentarians that they are working on strategies to address these problems. The Department of Home Affairs Immigration Services say they will be training Airline Liaison Officers, who will help curb illegal entries at the OR Tambo International Airport.
The Department of Tourism and MATCH (FIFA's accommodation partner for the 2010 World Cup) are working with the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa to assist smaller accommodation units and establishments in previously disadvantaged areas to obtain gradings and get registered as World Cup accommodation suppliers. Mr Gumede said they would interact with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and MATCH on tourism logistics.
The Parliamentary delegation also visited Beitbridge in Musina, (Limpopo), Maseru, Ficksburg and Fouriesburg (all three in the Free State Province), to monitor their readiness for increased visitor registration. The worst challenged was Maseru Bridge, which was found to be "not yet ready for next year's soccer World Cup." The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Ben Martins, said some of the problems were poor management, lack of proper equipment and staff shortages.
Meanwhile, South Africans have been encouraged to travel at home. The recently, while launching tourism month.
"Domestic and regional tourism is the backbone of a sustainable and robust tourism industry. In 2008, the total number of tourists in South Africa was 42,5 million, of which 9,5 million were foreign arrivals, " he said.
"Parliament recalls that Comrade Masango was amongst a group of activists who vociferously campaigned against the hanging of a prominent youth freedom fighter, Solomon Kalusha Mahlangu, before his hanging in 1979," said the deputy Chief Whip of the majority Party, Mr Bulelani Magwanishe. The National Assembly (NA) noted that Mr Masango's life was an example of heroism and commitment to the cause of the poor. The NA conveyed its condolences to the Masango family and the African National Congress.
Mr Sisulu said "Ting-Ting" Masango's dedication to the cause of freedom could not be overestimated. Those who were with him in the trenches came in large numbers to chant, recount, sing, and most of all, to pay their last respects to him. Friends and colleagues recalled the UmKhonto Wesizwe veteran. He was one of the renowned Delmas Four who were charged with treason in the 1980s, in a trial which came to be known as the "silent trial". The Delmas Four, Mr Frans "Ting-Ting" Masango, Mr Jabu Masina, Mr Neo Potsane, and Mr Joseph Makhura did not participate in the trial because they did not recognise the jurisdiction of the court. They wanted to be tried as MK soldiers and prisoners of war. The Delmas Four were found guilty and sentenced to death. They spent 18 months on death row, and made international headlines while staging a 38-day hunger strike. They were granted amnesty and released in June of 1991. The liberation struggle credentials of the deceased and his comrades were recently immortalised by their trial lawyer, Mr Peter Harris. His book, In A different Time, is a stranger-than-fiction narrative of their time together, and a harrowing account of their life on death row.
be reading of South African children, for South African children. They reflect the way in which children experience their life and how, through their experiences, they "map" themselves and their communities. The thoughtprovoking stories depict topics such as human rights, citizenship and community spirit. The book targets primary school learners, although high school pupils will relate to the stories.
We live in the flower veld ground, in spring.
We are the whisper of name Thaba Nchu, the Sunday Times over a period of a year, with the theme Every View Counts: My Story Our Stories. They were developed in 2006, in partnership with Johnnic Learning, by the Parliamentary Millennium Programme (PMP). The PMP encourages South Africans to explore their perspectives of each other and the challenges confronting the nation.
Did you know...
Various channels are available to anyone who wants to become involved in lawmaking and the activities of Parliament. You may want to present a petition, make a submission, attend a Committee meeting or a plenary debate of a House, or all of the above.
There is yet another way to participate in the work of Parliament and that is through the Parliamentary Democracy Offices, or PDOs as they are known. PDOs were created because Parliament believes that public participation drives democracy. As the custodian of parliamentary democracy, there is a constitutional imperative for it to facilitate participation. Chapter 4 of the Constitution compels Parliament to provide a national forum for public consideration of issues, to provide access to and to foster involvement in the legislative and other processes of Parliament. This provision finds permanent expression in Parliament's vision, which places people at its centre: and communities feel empowered because they can organise themselves and interact with Parliament as a stronger force.
In brief, the PDOs are there to provide a platform for people to access and participate in the processes of Parliament. When there are parliamentary programmes and activities, they must provide logistical support. Public input and feedback are collated by the PDOs, and they co-ordinate and co-operate with other spheres of government.
"In addition to our mandate we have established a track record of resolving a variety of disputes by way of facilitating contact between aggrieved parties and relevant government departments, much to the appreciation of communities," the PDOs report.
The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
In the interpretation of the law there appears to be uncertainty as to whether or not a labour broker who finds work for people, is in fact their employer. Although labour brokers find employment for temporary workers, this work may fall short of the benefits afforded to permanent employees, such as leave, wage structures and pension. Workers employed via labour brokers may be more at risk if they are injured at work. Questions arise regarding health and safety issues, and compensation. Temporary employees may be required to sign no-work, no-pay agreements, and could be entitled to fewer benefits than full-time employees.
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