Public Protector (PP) Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka says there is a growing number of Members of Parliament (MPs) who lodge complaints against other MPs with her office. The PP says most of these grievances that are directed to her fall within the ambit of the constitutional oversight role the national legislature is obliged to fulfill.
She says this trend diverts or delays resources from genuine complaints lodged by members of the public. Gcaleka was speaking on the last day of the two-day South African Legislative Sector (SALS) summit under way in Cape Town.
This year’s summit is held under the theme, “Striving For Oversight That Ensures A Better Life For All South Africans.”
Gcaleka says some MPs approached her office because they did not want to toe the party line.
“Politics should be addressed in political platforms and allow these institutions and mechanisms that are created by the constitution to service the people to do their job because you are then robbing the citizens of the platform and the speedy attention that should be given to their matters by diverting our attention into matters that should not be coming before us. So, I think really part of the ethical part of politicians should be around that. Is it right for them to do that? Because the time that we are spending going back and forth with them in respect of their political matters, we should be spending that time and resources in addressing the real need of the people.”
