The history of the development of democratic systems shows us that the strength of a country’s Parliament is one of the critical factors that makes or breaks a democracy. Where the executive is both able and willing to properly interrogate legislative proposals, policies and actions of members of government, governments are likely to exercise their powers diligently and in the interests of the people.

By providing a check on executive power between elections, a well-functioning Parliament is crucial for a successful democracy. With the prospect of an alternation in power unlikely in the short term, it is therefore vital that the South African Parliament uses its powers to oversee the executive effectively.