#FirstThingsFirst - Presidency needs oversight, Dr John Hlophe tells Ramaphosa in robust debate.

Speaking before the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about everything except his office’s R612-million budget. But it was the scope and scale of the Presidency, which has no parliamentary committee to account to, that drew the ire of MPs during the debate. The uMkhonto Wesizwe Party’s Chief Whip, Dr John Hlophe, questioned why there had never been a portfolio committee in Parliament overseeing the Presidency. “That is a serious lacuna,” he said. The team discussed the utterances by Dr Hlophe and asked listeners, “would the fact that it was raised by Dr Hlophe or the MK Party make a difference or are you looking at the substance of the argument and thinking it makes sense?”