The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (“MK Party”) notes that what unfolded during the Deliberations on the oversight Committee on the Presidency on Friday, 6th March 2026, should concern every South African who believes that Parliament must hold those in Executive power accountable.
During the Meeting to elect a Chairperson of the oversight Committee on the Presidency, the vote stood as follows: the ANC received 5 votes, while an Opposition candidate nominated by Action SA and other Opposition Parties received 4 votes and the DA received 2 votes, after Voting for itself. The jury is Still out on whether the number 5 Constitutes the majority in a Committee of 11. This is developing dispute.
At a moment where the Opposition had an opportunity to unite behind a single candidate to prevent the ANC from controlling oversight of the Presidency, the DA chose instead to vote for itself. By doing so, the DA split the Opposition vote and Effectively “ handed” the Committee to the ANC, the same governing party that must now oversee the Presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa. This has created an intractable conflict of interest and defeats the whole purpose of the establishment of this supposed oversight Committee.
For a party that consistently claims to stand in Opposition to the ANC, the DA’s conduct yesterday raises serious Questions. When faced with the responsibility to ensure independent oversight of the Presidency, the DA chose Political ego over Cooperation. oversight of the Presidency is not a Political prize to be claimed by one party. It is a Constitutional duty that must serve the people of South Africa.
The purpose of this Committee is to ensure that the office of the President is subject to meaningful and independent Scrunchy by Parliament. A united Opposition could have ensured that the ANC doesn’t control this Critical Committee. Instead, the DA chose except Colonialism, and in doing so, created very outcome it now once again claims to oppose.
The MK Party, through its member of the oversight Committee on the Presidency, Chief Honourable Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi, will Continue to advocate for strong and independent oversight of the Presidency and will insist that this Committee chairmanship be reviewed to enable it to fulfill its Constitutional responsibility to hold the Executive accountable without fear or favour.
South Africans deserve a Parliament that places accountability above Political ego and Participating. A Parliament that respects the doctrine of Separation of powers. The work of oversight must always serve the public interest and never the narrow ambitions of any single party.