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The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613917129211904 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Thompson, Renee |
| author2 | Quinot, Geo |
| author_browse | Quinot, Geo Thompson, Renee |
| author_facet | Quinot, Geo Thompson, Renee |
| author_sort | Thompson, Renee |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134838 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:44.982Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134838 The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 Thompson, Renee Quinot, Geo Brand, Dirk Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Legislative proces -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Committees -- South Africa Transparency in government -- South Africa Representative government and representation -- South Africa Legislative bodies -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Thompson, R. 2025. The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/7077e17e-7e85-416e-982c-79d2611e6a12 ENGLISH SUMMARY: South Africa's Constitution grants its Parliament the power to initiate and pass legislation. However, despite procedural rule adjustments to ensure the fulfilment of their constitutional mandates, the role of parliamentary committees in the national legislative process remains debated. This study aimed to ascertain how the training, support, time, staff and procedural resources provided to staff within ten selected parliamentary PCs have shaped their functioning in the national legislative process between 2014 and 2023, particularly following amendments made to the Rules of Parliament between this period. It analysed the capacities and constraints these committees have faced and proposed strategies to foster a more democratic, efficient and effective national legislative process in the country. A three-phased mixed-methods study was conducted. The preliminary literature survey phase analysed a wide range of sources focusing on historical and contemporary literature from the early 1990s to 2024 to refine the focus and inform the study procedures. Thereafter, an inductive interpretivist case study was employed in the first empirical research phase to assess the qualitative insights of two samples of 20 chairpersons and committee members and 27 support staff from ten selected parliamentary PCs in South Africa’s national Legislature. In the second empirical research phase, a descriptive non-experimental research strategy was performed with inferential statistical analysis on the cross-sectional quantitative dataset of all 47 committee members and support staff in the Empirical Research Phase One. Results indicated that while several operational challenges persist, there have been positive aspects of portfolio committees' functioning between 2014 and 2023. Notably, strengths were observed in legislative deliberations, support from the committee section for legislation referencing, and some adequate time-related resource allocations. However, many challenges were observed, including weaknesses in legislative deliberations, political disagreements, skills and knowledge deficiencies, process inefficiencies, and resource limitations. The study suggests multiple strategies based on the respondents' inputs to enhance parliamentary portfolio committees' influence in South Africa’s national legislative process. These include enhancing legislative deliberations, improving legislative referencing support from the committee section, and expanding training. Strategies for a stronger democratic political structure in the country are also recommended, emphasising increased transparency and accountability and addressing resource and funding challenges. Implementing these guidelines can help solidify the role of parliamentary portfolio committees in South Africa's national legislative processes, promoting a more inclusive and effective democracy. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Doctoral 2026-01-12T09:04:24Z 2026-01-12T09:04:24Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134838 Stellenbosch University 302 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Legislative proces -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Committees -- South Africa Transparency in government -- South Africa Representative government and representation -- South Africa Legislative bodies -- South Africa UCTD Thompson, Renee The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title | The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title_full | The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title_fullStr | The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title_short | The role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| title_sort | role of ten selected parliamentary portfolio committees in the national legislative process from 2014 to 2023 |
| topic | Legislative proces -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Committees -- South Africa Transparency in government -- South Africa Representative government and representation -- South Africa Legislative bodies -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134838 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thompsonrenee theroleoftenselectedparliamentaryportfoliocommitteesinthenationallegislativeprocessfrom2014to2023 AT thompsonrenee roleoftenselectedparliamentaryportfoliocommitteesinthenationallegislativeprocessfrom2014to2023 |