By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Doris Mpapane from the African National Congress (ANC) has been elected as the chairperson of the newly established Portfolio Committee on the Presidency.
Mpapane was elected to the position earlier today, securing the role after her party utilised its four-member majority, bolstered by a single vote from the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
She previously chaired the Rules Sub-Committee in the last administration, which was tasked with determining the committee’s operational framework.
During the proceedings, Mpapane defeated ActionSA’s parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, who was nominated by the MK Party’s Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi and supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and UAT leader Wonder Mahlatsi.
The vote came a day after the committee was forced to postpone the election following a dispute over procedural irregularities during the nomination process.
During Wednesday’s meeting, DA chief whip George Michalakis seconded his own nomination for the position after being nominated by his colleague Baxolile Nodada. Parliamentary legal advisers later ruled that while self-nomination is permissible, a member may not second their own nomination.
Mpapane used her acceptance speech to reassure members that she would lead with objectivity and prioritise cooperation across party lines.
“What I promise this committee is that we will work well together like we do in other committees. In all the committees I’ve never been partisan, and I promise not to be partisan.”
The call for an oversight committee on the Presidency dates back to the tenure of former president Thabo Mbeki. Calls for the committee grew louder during the state capture years.
The role played by portfolio committees is critical as they are responsible for overseeing government ministries.
MPs have often raised concerns that the president only answers to parliament during quarterly question and answer sessions, often marred by bias and a lack of transparency.