There’s a new energy coursing through the parliamentary portfolio committees and it’s impossible to ignore. From Education to Energy, Sports to State-Owned Entities ministers, deputy ministers, and department heads are no longer getting a free pass.
In a recent striking moment, the Minister of Higher Education found herself under intense scrutiny in the Education Portfolio Committee challenged sharply on budget allocations, student accommodation, and NSFAS performance. It was probing, pointed, and relentless.
Over in Sports, it was no different. When SAFA President Danny Jordaan appeared before the committee, MPs across party lines grilled him on governance and funding issues, sending a strong signal: accountability is non-negotiable.
This new culture is being shaped by a younger generation of parliamentarians assertive, informed, and unafraid to demand clarity.
They’re changing the tone, the expectations and perhaps even the very purpose of these oversight forums.
To unpack this, we are joined by Dr. Rachel Fischer, Parliamentary Engagement & Research Manager at OUTA offering a civil society lens into this moment and Bulelani Phillip, SABC News Parliamentary Reporter, with direct insight into how these dramatic exchanges are playing out in real time, both joining us via Teams Meeting.
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