Opposition MPs blast ministers for shallow answers

The MPs’ frustrations followed the deputy speaker, Kagiso Molatlhegi’s message to the House that going forward, long questions would not be answered verbally, but would be given in writing to the MP.

He said this was due to the inordinate amount of time taken to debate laws, which had resulted in slow execution of Parliament business. However, opposition backbenchers said responses by Cabinet ministers to their questions in Parliament were shallow and non-committal, forcing them to ask supplementary questions.