These are the MPs who will oversee the Presidency

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Parliament has announced members for a new committee overseeing the Presidency,including 16 representatives from various political parties.

Gallo Images/Sharon Seretloallo

Parliament announced members for the new committee overseeing the Presidency,including 16 representatives from various political parties.The committee allows scrutiny of the Presidency’s budget and accountability from the president and deputy president.This long-awaited committee was enabled by rule changes adopted in December last year after years of opposition party advocacy.Political parties have appointed senior members to serve on the new committee overseeing the Presidency.

The 16 members,including alternates,include three party leaders,four chief whips,and two parliamentary caucus leaders.

For years,opposition MPs have wanted a committee to oversee the Presidency,hitherto the only government entity receiving a budget from Parliament and not overseen by a specific committee.

Late last year,the National Assembly finally adopted the change to the rules that allows for the adoption of the committee.

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This week,Parliament announced which members of each party will serve on the committee.

ANC deputy chief whip Doris Mpapane at the SONA two weeks ago.

Phando Jikelo/RSA Parliament

The ANC is deploying its long-serving deputy chief whip,Doris Mpapane,and former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo,as well as Mikateko Mhlauli and Anthea Ramolobeng. Mahumapelo is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations,and Ramolobeng is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.

ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli is the party’s alternate member.

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DA chief whip George Michalakis during the SONA debate.

Phando Jikelo/RSA Parliament

The DA will be represented by its chief whip,George Michalakis,and his deputy,Baxolile Nodada.

The MK Party’s newly appointed chief whip,Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi,will serve on the committee,with her parliamentary leader,Des van Rooyen,being the alternate.

EFF leader Julius Malema and EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys during a hearing of the ad hoc committee.

Phando Jikelo/RSA Parliament

The EFF is sending the same team it sent to the ad hoc committee investigating the infiltration of the criminal justice system: party leader Julius Malema and Leigh-Ann Mathys as the alternate.

The rest of the committee will be made up of the Patriotic Alliance’s chief whip,Marlon Daniels,ActionSA’s parliamentary leader,Athol Trollip,and United Africans Transformation leader Wonderboy Mahlatsi.

FF Plus leader Corné Mulder and Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana will be alternates.

The much-awaited committee – for parties other than the ANC,at least – became a possibility in December last year,when the National Assembly adopted a report from the Rules Committee paving the way for a committee where the Presidency’s budget can be scrutinised,the director-general in the Presidency can come and account,the president and deputy president can account once a year on key policy matters and where any matter that gets referred to it by the Speaker or through a resolution of Parliament relating to the president or Presidency,can be investigated.

READ | A committee overseeing the Presidency is a good thing. No,really.

For years,opposition parties agitated for such a committee.

Former IFP chief whip Narend Singh (now a deputy minister) proposed that the National Assembly establish a committee to oversee the Presidency in the Sixth Parliament. The Zondo Commission also recommended the establishment of a committee to oversee the Presidency. The ANC,in the sixth Parliament,kicked for touch.

Michalakis placed it on the Rules Committee’s agenda once again after the establishment of the Seventh Parliament in 2024. Mpapane chaired the subcommittee of the Rules Committee that drafted the new rules.

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A chairperson for the committee will be elected at its yet-to-be-announced first meeting.