13 Jul 2022

Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has presented a bill seeking to establish a standing committee on the remuneration of Members of Parliament, councillors, members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and specified offices.

The Standing Committee on Remuneration of (Members of the National Assembly, Councillors, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and specified offices) Bill, 2022 was presented for the second reading on Tuesday.

Mr Morwaeng said the bill contained 17 clauses covering a wide range of matters. He said clause 3 would establish the standing committee and its composition while clause 4 would set up provisions for the functions of the standing committee.

The minister also said clause 7 of the bill provided for a three year tenure of office for members of the committee. He added that clause 6 stipulated that the standing committee shall be guided by directions issued by the minister from time to time.

Mr Morwaeng noted that the responsibility to determine the salaries and allowances of MPs, members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and specified offices currently rested with the National Assembly in terms of several pieces of legislation. 

He said such pieces of legislation were the National Assembly Salaries and Allowances Act, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Salaries and Allowances Act and the Specified Offices Act respectively. 

He said the determination of the remuneration of the above offices was based on bills from the executive.

“The bills would then be tabled to the National Assembly for approval. However, some including MPs themselves had questioned the wisdom of MPs deciding on their salaries. They view this as amounting to conflict of interest,” said the minister.

To address the issue, Mr Morwaeng said a presidential commission was appointed in 2018 to review the salaries, conditions of service and other entitlements for the political leadership, Justices of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and councillors.

He said the commission recommended the setting up of a standing committee to advice the President periodically on the remuneration and conditions of service for the political leadership and Members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.

“The commission recommended that there be an independent structure to carry out a periodic review of the conditions of service which should be relatively free from any suspicions of bias and conflict of interest,” said the minister.

He said government accepted the recommendation to establish the standing committee as advised which resulted in crafting of a bill to that effect.

Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama expressed support for the bill. 

He said political leaders have played a significant role in society, but have lacked a platform to advocate for the improvement of their working conditions and resources. 

He said most political leaders operated under difficult conditions and lack of resources, and that he hoped the standing committee would change the scenario.

“Our offices lack capacity to efficiently address concerns from members of society. The offices lack resources such as transport,” said the MP.

Mr Hikuama, however, suggested that the committee should take its recommendations to Parliament instead of the minister.

Takatokwane MP, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe also supported the bill. 

He said he was against the current arrangement where MPs debated their own remuneration. 

He also said the remuneration of dikgosi, MPs and councillors should be increased because they played significant roles in their communities. 

He was also of the view that the committee should report to Parliament instead of the minister.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks also welcomed the bill. He said the welfare of political leaders was inferior compared to neighouring states. 

He also said it was important to have a committee looking at their working conditions and remuneration. 

However, Mr Brooks felt the bill should be clearer on what was meant by ‘specified offices.’Ends