CURRENTLY ON AIR ⇒
  • Rev it Up
    Friday, 8:05 pm - 9:00 pm
    [ - ]

feedback@radioislam.org.za

logo


((( Listen Live )))))
Radio Islam Logo


Parlimeter – New online tool launched to improve Parliamentary transparency

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
7 March 2025 | 12:30 CAT
2 min read

Several organisations, including OUTA, the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) and OpenUp, have collaborated to launch Parlimeter, an online tool designed to help citizens track parliamentary activities. The initiative aims to provide accessible and transparent insights into the workings of South Africa’s Parliament, allowing users to monitor parliamentary proceedings, MP attendance, and the progress of legislation.

Rachel Fischer from OUTA explained the purpose of Parlimeter, stating, “Every now and then, Parliament comes up with a discussion leading to a bill, and then we wonder what is going on. What Parlimeter seeks to do is provide answers to key questions: Are MPs working? Yes, we can see their activities on Parlimeter. Are they working hard? Yes, the platform allows us to track their engagement. But the third question, are they working meaningfully, is where it becomes tricky.”

Parlimeter functions as an information portal that does not draw conclusions but instead provides data for users to interpret. “It gives you the data and then information from which to make your own observations and conclusions. We are trying to make it as objective as possible,” Fischer said.

The tool is freely accessible to all users, including citizens, parliamentary officials, and researchers. She emphasised that no login is required. “Any user can simply go to the website, www.parlimeter.org.za, and access that information for free. In the future, we also want to make this data available for download as Excel or CSV files so users can gather their own insights,” she added.

Parlimeter gathers its data through PMG, which compiles minutes of parliamentary meetings. “Parliament does not make these minutes easily accessible, so we rely on civil society organisations like PMG to provide this data. Since we share the same developer, OpenUp, Parlimeter is automatically updated as PMG updates its records,” Fischer explained.

Regarding public engagement, she acknowledged that while Parlimeter does not currently allow discussions directly on the platform, it does encourage interaction through social media. “We have developed a Facebook page and will be posting updates on X and LinkedIn. This allows for public discussion and engagement,” she said.

Fischer also highlighted the importance of raising awareness about Parlimeter, particularly among younger audiences. “We have already conducted user testing at four universities—two in Gauteng and two in the Western Cape. Due to funding constraints, our in-person outreach is currently limited to these provinces, but we hope to expand further,” she said.

Fischer stressed the need for public engagement, especially given declining voter turnout. “Every year, voter turnout keeps dropping. If this trend continues, we will have an abysmal turnout in 2029. It is crucial that people stay informed about parliamentary activities, not just during high-profile events, but on a daily basis,” she added.

Parlimeter is still evolving, with plans to make it more accessible for mobile users. She noted that due to the complexity of the data, the platform is best accessed on a computer, but the need for a more mobile-friendly version has been recognised. “As we engage with communities, particularly in rural areas, we will work towards making the platform more user-friendly on cell phones,” she said.

With Parlimeter now live, the organisations behind it hope it will serve as a valuable resource for South Africans seeking to stay informed about parliamentary proceedings and government accountability.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and OUTA’s Rachel Fisher, here.

ADVERTISE HERE

Prime Spot!!!

Contact:
advertisingadmin@radioislam.co.za 

Related Articles

Apartheid-Era Trials Unearthed in New Book by Yunus Carrim

Apartheid-Era Trials Unearthed in New Book by Yunus Carrim

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 5-minute read 29 August 2025 | 18:30 CAT The painful yet powerful legacy of South Africa’s liberation struggle has been brought into sharper focus with the release of Attacking the Heart of Apartheid, a new book by historian and...

read more
Dr Taskeen Fathima Docrat: Researching Rooibos

Dr Taskeen Fathima Docrat: Researching Rooibos

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 28 August 2025 3-minute read A scientist turning a proudly South African brew into a weapon against one of the world’s toughest diseases. Dr Taskeen Fathima Docrat from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology is leading...

read more
The Middle East Report

The Middle East Report

Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za 29 August 2025 | 11:41 CAT 3-minute read Gaza ceasefire mediators have diverging objectives While Qatar and Egypt have have persuaded Hamas to accept the month-old ceasefire proposal, the United States and Israel have...

read more
The Media Lens

The Media Lens

28 August 2025 | 10:25 CAT 2-minute read Silencing the Truth: Gaza Journalists Under Fire In today’s segment of the Media Lens, Ibrahim Deen delivered a searing critique of how Western media coverage is quietly facilitating the erosion of press freedom—and, with it,...

read more
The Asia Pacific Report

The Asia Pacific Report

FORUM-ASIA reports shrinking civic space across Asia as HRD crackdowns increase 28 August 2025 | 09:15 CAT 2-minute read In its sixth biennial Defending in Numbers: Reclaiming Civic Space, Unbroken Voices report, released on 14 July 2025, FORUM-ASIA delivers a stark...

read more

Subscribe to our Newsletter

0 Comments