DA will hold President to new questions session date

21 January 2015

The DA notes The Presidency's proposed 11 March 2015 National Assembly Questions to the President session.

This is the conclusion to a seven-month battle by the DA in Parliament's Programme Committee, and the tireless exploration of other avenues to hold The President and Executive to account.

Earlier today - following a request I made last week - I received confirmation that this year's inaugural Programme Committee meeting will be held on 26 January. At the meeting we will:

Request that the proposed session be extended in order to conclude the line of questioning disrupted during the questions session held on 21 August as well.

Demand that the Speaker provide additional dates for the President to answer questions in Parliament later this year.

Rule 111(1)(a) requires the President to appear before the House at least once every term to answer questions from Members of Parliament.

The proposed question sessions date will ensure that the President fulfils his parliamentary duty.

Furthermore it will negate recent threats to disrupt the State of the Nation Address by other opposition parties that would have otherwise afforded the President another opportunity to escape accountability and deprived millions of South Africans the answers they deserve.

The DA will closely monitor this matter to ensure The President meets his obligations.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, January 21 2015

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