A CSO perspective on the Indicators for Democratic Parliament in a Southern African Context

This report maps relevant structures to the Indicators for Democratic Parliaments (IDPs) framework and covers all seven targets from the IDPs which includes law making and budget scrutiny to ethical conduct, public participation and representation. The report highlights the importance of looking beyond the existence of rules and structures to how they can function in practice. Established oversight mechanisms need meaningful follow-through, access to information must enable public understanding, and opportunities to participate should give citizens a voice in decisions that affect them.

By mapping these indicators to parliamentary divisions, committees and national departments, the report makes an international framework relevant to the South African context. It offers a civil society perspective on where responsibility lies, what needs strengthening and how parliament can better serve the people it represents.