Veteran MP's advice to new MPs

The Fifth Parliament opens on 21 May 2014 and People’s Assembly decided to catch up with out-going MP and former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Annelize van Wyk.

Asked why she’s not returning to Parliament, van Wyk answered with a short and simple “Because I was too low on the list”.

Reflecting on the highs and lows of her time as an MP, van Wyk told People’s Assembly, “For me, one of the legislative highs was the firearm legislation, specifically that it had the necessary impact of reducing the number of firearm murders of women and children. When we looked at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital figures, we saw that less children had died from gun-related violence. The whole point of legislation is that we see a change in societal behaviour.”

She added that on a personal level it was “an honour” to serve as chair of the Police Portfolio Committee because although it was difficult at times, the committee members did not shy away from controversy and asked hard questions.

Outgoing ANC MP and chair of the Police Portfolio Committee, Annelize van Wyk (pink jacket)

Criminal Justice specialist and Research Coordinator at Ndifuni Ukuwazi, Craig Oosthuizen, spent much of his time monitoring the Police Portfolio Committee. When asked what he thought of Van Wyk’s performance, he said, “It was one of the few committees that worked. She was thorough, tough and had good understanding of policing. She also sometimes upset people, some within the ANC, because of how direct she was. She was demanding and came down hard on the Department for not fulfilling the obligations that they had agreed to previously. I’m sad to see her go.”

With regards to the challenges of the job, van Wyk told People’s Assembly that people seldom realise how much hard work goes into being an MP and the amount of time it takes. “It isn’t a nine to five job, it’s not five days a week, it’s more like seven days a week.”

She added that making a difference in your constituencies is also one of the weaknesses of Parliament as constituency offices do not have the support structure to solve people’s legal and other problem. She said here has “always been talk” but no action when it comes to having proper political party offices over and above constituency offices.

“Another challenge is proper oversight as parliamentary committees depend on information from [government] departments which means they don’t have independent information,” van Wyk explained. She went on to say that during her time as chair, the Police Portfolio Committee developed their own oversight tool that saw MPs visit local police stations so they could capture the number of vehicles at a particular station, for example, and then cross reference that with SAPS' reports.

Responding to whether she had advice for new MPs, van Wyk said, “Get to know your department well, be on top of everything, read, read, read and don’t take anything at face value. Question and interrogate them on everything. If not, the department will run circles around you.”

She advised that MPs specialise in a portfolio and do not try to be on too many committees.

Van Wyk was uncertain about what the future will bring for her, explaining she will have a clearer idea of her next move in the next month or so. “I am taking time out to decide what it is that I want to do. I still want to be involved in politics and the security legislation side of things but I’ll be transferring my skills”.

She is looking into either working in the NGO or business sectors and will remain a member of the ANC. Van Wyk joined the National Party in 1987, serving as member of the Gauteng Legislature from 1994-1997. She did a brief stint with the UDM before joining the ANC in 2003. Her father is a former Correctional Services official who drove the vehicle which transported Nelson Mandela from Pretoria to Cape Town so he could be at incarcerated at Robben Island.

Her last sitting in Parliament included the passing of the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA) Amendment Bill and the controversial endorsement of Robert McBride’s nomination to head up the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).