Johannesburg: The National Council of Provinces (NCOP), led by Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, is set to implement its Taking Parliament to the People (TPTTP) programme in the Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West next week. The initiative will take place from 12 to 15 May 2026, under the theme: 'Celebrating 30 Years of the Constitution: Deepening Participatory Democracy for Service Delivery.'
According to South African Government News Agency, TPTTP is part of the NCOP's constitutional mandate under Section 72, which requires Parliament to facilitate public participation and conduct its business in an open and transparent manner. Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo emphasized that the NCOP, representing provincial and local interests at the national level, has a critical role in strengthening South Africa's democracy.
Mothapo highlighted that the core functions of the NCOP include oversight over local and provincial government, cooperative governance, and protecting provincial interests. "The NCOP acts as a bridge, ensuring that provincial and local concerns inform national policy and legislation," he stated.
He further explained that the TPTTP programme creates a platform for collaboration by bringing together all three spheres of government with the same communities. "Through the TPTTP, delegates to the NCOP assess service delivery challenges first-hand and hold government leaders accountable. The programme is not merely a public dialogue but a constitutional exercise in participatory democracy, accountability, and cooperative governance," Mothapo elaborated.
The initiative aims to provide a platform for national, provincial, and local governments to engage collectively on service delivery challenges and policy matters. It will enable communities in the Kenneth Kaunda District and surrounding areas to engage directly with government leaders on key issues such as local economic development, infrastructure maintenance, and financial management.
Activities during the programme will include public hearings, oversight visits to service delivery hotspots, and direct engagements with NCOP delegates, Ministers, Members of Provincial Legislatures (MPLs), and local councillors.
