Parliament: Spatial Inequality
Abstract
The Panel is an initiative of the Speaker's Forum aimed at taking stock of the past performance of the South African legislative sector, while ensuring the continued advancement of the sector in executing its constitutional mandate. The challenge of assessing the impact of legislation has been highlighted as a major strategic objective for the South African Legislative Sector since the Fourth Democratic Parliament. After an extensive process of multi-party workshops and consultation, this objective was included in the Strategic Plan for the Fifth Democratic Parliament, as adopted by both Houses of Parliament in June 2015. After a number of workshops by the Speaker's Forum, the establishment of a panel of eminent South Africans, with the expertise to assist Parliament and the rest of the South African legislative sector in this regard, was agreed upon. Presiding Officers of Parliament and Provincial Legislators assisted in the identification of appropriately skilled and experienced South Africans. A specific focus was placed on individuals with expertise in the key areas under scrutiny, viz.: The Triple Challenges of Poverty, Unemployment and Inequality; The Creation and Equitable Distribution of Wealth; Land reform, Restitution, and the Security of Tenure; Nation Building and Social Cohesion.
