Constituency data to provide insights into work done by MPs
Parliament should create and maintain a data pipeline that results in an up-to-date list of MPs and the constituencies they represent. Parties should also be compelled to gather and share evidence of members work in those constituencies.
User stories
As a citizen, I would like to know which MPs represent my constituency and whether they are aware of, and prioritizing, the issues that communities in my area are facing, in order to be able to hold them accountable.
As an MP, I would like the citizens in the communities I represent to know who I am and how to get in touch with me, so that I can gather important information around the issues they face. I would also like to be able to show evidence of having been responsive and active within these communities.
As a journalist, I would like better data around time and money spent on constituency leave, as well as more clarity about which MPs are responsible for which communities, in order to conduct more rigorous investigations.
Why this is important
Constituency work is central to South Africa’s participatory democracy. MPs are constitutionally mandated (Section 59) to engage the public, yet public trust in MPs is eroding due to limited visibility, poor responsiveness, and weak communication channels. Strong constituency performance enhances democratic legitimacy and public participation.
How things currently stand
- The Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) system is inconsistently implemented and often under-resourced.
- There is no standardised tracking of how MPs raise constituency concerns in Parliament.
- MPs’ questions in Parliament reflect some community issues but lack a systematic framework for analysis or follow-through.
- Public awareness of MPs’ constituency roles remains low, contributing to disengagement and voter apathy.
What this recommendation will enable
- Better tracking of how MPs represent constituent issues in Parliament (e.g. through tagging and analysing parliamentary questions).
- Enhanced data visualisation of constituency-linked interventions to support oversight and transparency.
- Benchmarking tools to assess whether MPs engage communities meaningfully, especially marginalised ones.
- Improved digital access to constituency activity, enabling civil society and citizens to hold MPs accountable.
- Innovation opportunities for civic tech that links offline PCO work to online performance data.
Progress made so far
- Engagement with Parliament and civil society has underscored the demand for a constituency effectiveness index and standardised reporting practices.
- ParliMeter has engaged with parties to gather their most up to date list of constituency offices and representatives.
Have your say
If you have any questions about this recommendation or if you have information you feel could contribute towards its progress, please submit your comment here.
Make your voice heard
Every recommendation starts with a question
This list is always evolving to reflect the expressed needs of ParliMeter's users. If you have a question or an idea that you think requires intervention to implement, please tell us about it!
Blog posts
Understanding the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel
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Public Perception Survey Report – 2024
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