Functions of Committee: Parliament briefing

Meeting report

IMPROVEMENT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS JOINT COMMITTEE
10 November 2004
FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE: PARLIAMENT BRIEFING

Chairperson: Ms N Bogopane-Zulu (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Parliament Discussion Document: Mandates and Functioning of Joint Monitoring Committee (2 June 2004)

SUMMARY
The Secretary of the National Assembly briefed Members on the Joint Committee's roles and functions. Members suggested that more clarification be provided at a workshop in the near future.

MINUTES
Mr K Hahndiek, Secretary of the National Assembly, took the Committee through a 'discussion document' on its roles and functions. He stated that it would be very important for the Committee to engage with government departments to find out what progress were being made on women's and children's issues. He mentioned that useful resources included the Office of the President and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on behalf of children.

Discussion
Ms N Kondlo (ANC) asked about the issue of the assessment of the Bills. She wanted to know whether the Committee only negotiated or could make decisions on the Bill.

Mr Hahndiek that if the Committee had strong views on certain issues, it would make specific recommendations to the Portfolio Committee dealing with that specific Bill. The Portfolio Committee was then responsible for presenting these recommendations to the House. He suggested that the Joint Committee present their concerns and recommendations as a written statement. The Portfolio Committee could then decide whether to attached these recommendations.

Mr T Setona (ANC) felt the Committee role should be informed debate and discussion. He wanted to know how could the success of the Committee could be measured. He suggested a further workshop to explain certain workings of the Joint Committee.

Mr Hahndiek agreed with the idea of a workshop. The Committee could insist on its concerns being heard by any or all of the Portfolio Committees on specific bills.

The Chairperson stated that the Committee had previously had 26 members, but membership had now been reduced to 22. With this reduction, a subject specialist was very necessary. It would be very difficult for the Committee to look at every Bill that came from the Portfolio Committee if they did not have a subject specialist.

Mr Hahndiek stated that when the Committee was fully operational, it would get all the support needed to keep the Committee informed about relevant Bills. The subject specialist concept was absolutely necessary. This Committee had been set up to protect the interests of the most vulnerable. More about the support required would be discussed in the workshop.

The meeting was adjourned.