1000 gmt - Maybe that paperwork was not quite so interesting

John Kuhn said he got the idea from American presidential hopeful Al Gore.

Apparently Mr Gore promised supporters on the campaign trail that should he become president in November's elections, he would install webcameras in the White House, to ensure that the public could witness their president doing his job.

The South African student project is not in quite the same league as 24-hour surveillance of the Oval Office.

In fact the relatively low cost of the project will be born by the students themselves, who consider it a wacky webcam idea and are anxious not to get involved in politics.

De Lille

But there is no question that Mrs De Lille will capitalise on the opportunity to show website viewers that she is hard at work protecting their interests, and thoroughly deserving of the recent pay increase awarded to MPs.

1030 gmt - Still not back. Now that is a long coffee break.

It is also an opportunity for her to indulge in a bit of free campaigning on behalf of her party, the PAC, with local government elections just over a month away.

She is delighted that internet users will be able to witness the PAC's probe into the billion-rand arms deal which will be debated in parliament next week, as well as see members of the Cape community submit complaints about environmental damage caused by a chemical factory in their area.

"Boring? Oh no. There will be lots happening," says Mrs De Lille.

John Kuhn believes the week-long webcast is bound to be a huge success.

Another site, offering internet surfers the opportunity to watch wild animals at drinking holes in wilderness areas, gets millions of hits every month, he says, and that is only animals.

The student group also hopes to persuade cabinet ministers to permit 24-hour surveillance of their working habits, but for the moment, for the next week, it is Patricia de Lille who will be under the spotlight.