The biometric (fingerprint) system will be used to record the attendance of MPs at sittings of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
It requires MPs to register their attendance with a thumbprint and it will be implemented in committee meetings at a later stage.
The biometric system will start operating in the next term, when MPs return from a constituency period on April 14. The electronic monitoring system will replace a manual system parliament has used, which required MPs to fill in attendance slips and deposit them into boxes.
There have been complaints from some political parties about the inefficiencies of the system.
The ANC has, for instance, struggled in the last two years to pass several key pieces of legislation opposed by the opposition, because so few ANC MPs were present.
ANC chief whip Stone Sizani's spokesman, Maloto Mothapo, welcomed the system, saying it would provide punitive measures against those who abscond.
Source: The Herald, via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
