The legislatures belong to the people, not to political parties, but ordinary citizens are often frustrated at every turn when participating in parliamentary processes. Sizwe Manqele, a Right2Know Campaign member, is passionate about public participation in the economy and politics. Racial prejudice kept him silent and sparked a lot of anger in him as a youth, but he found a way to direct the rage that burned inside him towards becoming a community mobiliser and environmental activist. Despite many obstacles, he remains dedicated to his work as a parliamentary monitor. He explains how he got involved in this work and why he feels it is so important.