Masibulele Xaso, secretary of the National Assembly, suggested last week that 17 oral questions per session could be posed to a minister.
Parliamentary portfolio committees will now have four more permanent members to accommodate 18 parties in the National Assembly after the recent election. Each committee will have 15 permanent members, with the larger parties allocated a certain number of seats and the remaining parties competing for the remaining spots. This move towards inclusivity was agreed upon by the ruling ANC and the DA.
There has also been a discussion about the allocation of oral parliamentary questions to ministers, with a proposed increase to 17 questions per session. This move aims to give all parties, including smaller ones, a chance to engage directly with ministers and gain media exposure.
This new approach to parliamentary proceedings reflects a commitment to inclusivity and fairness in the National Assembly.