OUTA and Partners Host a Successful Civil Society-Parliament Symposium

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is looking forward to an open and productive partnership with Parliament during the 7^th administration, following a successful engagement with parliamentary officials.

On 27 November 2024, OUTA, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and key stakeholders, successfully hosted a hybrid (in-person and online) Civil Society-Parliament Symposium. This event brought together parliamentary officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), and governance experts to strengthen collaboration and enhance parliamentary oversight, accountability, and transparency in South Africa’s 7^th parliamentary administration.

“Parliamentary oversight is essential for democracy, but it cannot succeed without the active involvement of civil society. Civil society organisations bring unique value to this collaboration through grassroots engagement, community-level insights, research, and advocacy. These contributions together with the oversight role of Parliament allow for an opportunity for joint problem solving,” says Robyn Pasensie, OUTA Parliamentary Project Manager.

“The symposium marked a unique and vital opportunity for CSOs and Parliament to come together and explore how best to work with one another in pursuit of our shared mission: the protection and advancement of South Africa’s democracy. It demonstrated the immense potential of partnership in addressing the country’s governance challenges and highlighted actionable steps to strengthen this collaboration.”

Key outcomes from our discussion

• Strengthened partnerships: The discussions facilitated meaningful connections between Parliament and civil society organisations, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.
• Enhanced public engagement: The participants highlighted the critical role of civic participation in ensuring effective governance and increased awareness of parliamentary processes.
• Actionable recommendations: Discussions generated a set of practical strategies for addressing challenges in parliamentary oversight and proactive governance.
• Capacity building: This is the start of equipping participants with knowledge and tools to actively contribute to governance and oversight initiatives.

The symposium provided a platform for honest dialogue, with speakers acknowledging the complexities of systemic change through the often quoted phrase: “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”. While recognising the inherent challenges, the discussions focused on fostering trust, mutual understanding, and a collective commitment to transparent and participatory governance. Both Parliament and CSOs were united in their goal to protect South Africa’s democracy and improve outcomes for its people.

“This was an excellent opportunity for civil society and Parliament to figure out how better to work together for their shared mission of protecting South Africa,” said Pasensie. “The collaboration and ideas shared here will serve as a foundation for a stronger, more accountable democracy.”

OUTA and KAS extend their gratitude to all participants, panellists, and organisers who contributed to the success of this event. The outcomes of the symposium will inform future initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight and fostering collaborative governance in South Africa.