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Constraints and Prospects for Legislative Oversight in Emerging African Democracies: The Case of South Africa

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Book cover Perspectives on the Legislature and the Prospects of Accountability in Nigeria and South Africa

Abstract

Many countries around the world have undergone democratic transitions resulting in civilian governments and embracing democratic governance as a preferred system (Izah 2012). In Africa alone, there is an increasing appreciation of the role of parliaments in promoting democracy and good governance. South Africa, as one of the new democracies, also saw a transition from colonial-apartheid to a new dispensation and the country has since been under constitutional democracy premised on the supremacy of the Constitution. In light of such transition, parliament under the new Constitution established Institutions Supporting Democracy (ISDs) to institutionalize oversight (RSA Constitution, Section 181 (2) 1996).

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Notshulwana, K.M., Lebakeng, T.J. (2019). Constraints and Prospects for Legislative Oversight in Emerging African Democracies: The Case of South Africa. In: Fagbadebo, O., Ruffin, F. (eds) Perspectives on the Legislature and the Prospects of Accountability in Nigeria and South Africa. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93509-6_10

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