Leader of Government Business in Parliament and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the establishment of a committee to tackle the challenges that Parliament has been faced with over the past few months.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with the leaders of all opposition parties at Tuynhuys in Cape Town on Tuesday morning, the Deputy President said the committee was established following several disruptions in the National Assembly.

“We have … agreed that what we are going to do is address various matters that have occurred in the past and matters that have to do with the application of the rules, matters of principle.

“We will address them through a committee that will be set up.”

Ramaphosa will lead the committee, as the leader of government business, and the Democratic Alliance’s Mmusi Maimane and African National Congress’s Stone Sizani would be deputy leaders.

The committee will also include National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete and the leaders of various Portfolio Committees.

“This committee will start meeting next week and we will address key issues that have to do with the proper functioning of Parliament,” he said.

The committee would further report to all political leaders who attended his earlier meeting.

Ramaphosa said all leaders of political parties who were part of the meeting agreed that it was time to restore the image and dignity of Parliament, and to ensure that it regains the respect of all members of the public.

He said all leaders yearned for a Parliament where there is decorum, where debates are conducted in a constructive manner with no disrespectful insults being thrown at anyone.

Ramaphosa said there was also an agreement that a climate where members of the executive can appear before Parliament to account needed to be created.

The newly formed committee would also look at the rules and procedures of the National Assembly to ensure that presiding officers implement them without any favour or bias towards any political party.