LEGISLATURES MUST USE TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Covid-19 forced the legislative sector to make use of technology to carry out its oversight work, providing an opportunity in the future to enhance public participation in the sector’s work. Enhancing public participation dominated the second day of the 2023 Legislative Sector Development Seminar, which took place at the Sun City Convention Centre in the North West Province.

The Constitutional Court has on various occasions found the legislative sector to be deficient in implementing its constitutional imperative to include the public in its work. In reflecting on this, seminar delegates urged the sector to move with speed to incorporate technology as a tool to enhance public participation. Using technology would not only increase participation, they said, it would also reduce costs for things such as catering and travel.

In emphasising this point, Dr Sithembile Mbete from the University of Pretoria highlighted that public participation should receive more money in the sector’s budgets, given its importance in the sector’s overall mandate. “Public participation is the core business of the work of the legislative sector and not just an add on. If the sector is going to fulfil its constitutional mandate it should be prioritising public participation in its budget, and you are the right people to reflect on why this has not been done up to now,” he pointed out.

But the risk posed by high poverty levels, low connectivity and technological illiteracy must be addressed to prevent the exclusion of many South Africans. According to Statistics South Africa, the country has the highest income Gini index globally at 63 per cent as of 2018. One of the crucial obstacles to combating poverty and inequality is job availability, with youth unemployment as high as 51.5 per cent in 2022. Stats SA also reports that 37 per cent of South African households have consistent access to the internet through cell phones or computers. These risks were highlighted as barriers that must be addressed to ensure that oversight through technology does not leave the majority behind.

Loadshedding was another area of concern for participants, especially its negative impact on connectivity. According to statistics at the end of July, in 2023 Eskom implemented blackouts every single day except for one. In total there have been 4 079 hours of blackouts, or 170 days.

The seminar also reflected on the post Covid-19 work environment, with many workplaces adopting a work-from-home approach. Many participants were of the view that this approach has had a positive impact on productivity levels but urged the sector to adopt policies to regulate it. In addition, they said research is needed into the psychological impact of working from home to determine the way forward and to aid a decision on which model to adopt to enhance oversight work.

The third and final day of the seminar reflected on women in leadership and the work of the Parliamentary Women and Gender Rights Forum.

Source: Parliament of South Africa