Parliament says it continues to engage with the Executive over unanswered ministerial questions.
Written and oral questions from MPs are one way in which parliamentarians hold the executive accountable.
The issue of unanswered questions by ministers has been a bone of contention for many years.
Recently, Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted in one of the written parliamentary replies that he had been sponsored by a private company to attend the Rugby World Cup in France.
This is how oral and written questions to the executive, which they are obliged to answer, promote accountability.
In a statement, Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo, says in the National Assembly over 4000 written questions were submitted, with over 550 answers outstanding. Of the 380 oral questions, 60 are yet to be answered.
In the National Council of Provinces, 845 questions, both oral and written, were asked, with 17 replies outstanding.
Mothapo says the Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has again written to Deputy President Paul Mashatle, who is the Leader of Government Business, to alert him to the outstanding answers.
Performance Highlights #Parliament2023: In the NA this year, a total of 4 226 written questions and 380 oral questions were addressed to the executive. By 7 December, the members of the executive had responded to 3 671 written questions. pic.twitter.com/snWGQUnUnE
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) December 19, 2023
#Parliament2023: In the NCOP, a total of 845 questions (both oral and written) were addressed to the executive. All oral questions were responded to, while only 17 questions still await replies and are still within the prescribed period for responses in terms of the Council rules pic.twitter.com/LTlfl5b61s
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) December 19, 2023
