Hosting of the Pan-African Parliament by South Africa and contribution towards placing Africa on a new development trajectory and future plans
QUOTE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 56 (CW64E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 4-2016 OF 26 FEBRUARY 2016.
Mr E R Makue (Gauteng: ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
1. Whether South Africa’s hosting of the Pan-African Parliament is contributing towards placing Africa on a new development trajectory; if not, what are the future plans; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY:
1. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) also known as the African Parliament is one of the nine organs of the African Union which came about as a proposal stated in the 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty). Its purpose, as set out in article 17 of the AU Constitutive Act, is “to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent”. The Parliament is intended as a platform for people from all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. The PAP was aimed to be the legislative body of the African Union however it currently exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers. The PAP held its inaugural session in March 2004. The seat of the Pan-African Parliament is in Midrand, South Africa.
In over ten years of existence, the Pan African Parliament has convened biannually to deliberate on political and socio-economic issues affecting the continent. In the recent few years, the Pan African Parliament, as an organ of the AU, has engulfed itself on playing an advisory role to the Assembly of Heads of States on a wide array of issues affecting the continent. These, amongst others, include performing an advisory role on, the security situation on the continent, Climate change debate, Post-2015 developmental Agenda. The PAP has further carved a niche through committees to contribute to the attainment of the aspirations as expressed in Agenda 2063. The PAP through its programmes and purpose is one of the vehicles designed to catapult the continent on an accelerated developmental trajectory.
South Africa as a host, with established institutions of governance and a functional parliamentary democracy is a perfect example for the PAP as it endeavours to establish itself into a prime institution of governance on the continent.
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