Adoption of Committee Programme
Social Development
21 February 2007
Meeting Summary
A summary of this committee meeting is not yet available.
Meeting report
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
21 February 2007
ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE PROGRAMME
Chairperson: Ms T Tshivase (ANC)
Documents handed out:
First Term
Committee Programme
Overview of issues
Social
Cluster 2 Media Briefing: Second economy interventions and poverty alleviation
South African
Social Security Agency: Service Delivery Fact Sheet
Ministers Briefing
Note on Social Security
SUMMARY
The Committee met to consider its Programme for 2007. Before adopting the
Programme, the Committee agreed that it would have to be briefed by the
Department on its budget vote as soon as possible.
MINUTES
Committee 2007 Programme
Ms I Mars (IFP) enquired as to the doubt concerning the dates for the budget hearing
meetings.
Mr S Whiting, Department of Social Development Parliamentary Liaison
Officer, responded that due to the Appropriation Bill being tabled
in late March, there maybe a
possibility that the Department’s Budget Vote be postponed until May. This would
have an affect on the Committee’s briefing schedule.
The Chairperson wanted the Committee to meet on the Department’s budget soon
after the Budget Speech by Mr Trevor Manual, Minister of Finance. She was of
the view that its postponement would delay the Committee’s Programme.
Adv T Masutha (ANC) stated that due to the renewed
momentum in comprehensive social security following the President’s State of
the Nation Address, the Department must brief the Committee on it as soon as
possible after Minister Manuel’s Budget Speech. This was important because the
Department was the lead government department on the issue. The briefing should
take place the following Tuesday, before key officials within the Department left
for the International Conference on Social Security in Warsaw, Poland. This, he
suggested, would allow the Committee’s Programme to continue as scheduled. The
Department will present their budget and strategic plan on 7 March, and Budget-related
issues must be finalised before the end of March before the Minister’s debate
on the Department’s budget vote.
Ms Mars pointed out that Tuesday would be problematic for Members of the smaller
political parties, as they were scheduled to attend other Committee meetings.
Mr B Mkongi (ANC) agreed with Ms Mars. He proposed
that it be scheduled for 14:00 on Tuesday, while the House would be sitting.
Ms S Rajbally (MF) agreed that it would cause
difficultly for the smaller parties, but stated that she would agree with the decision
taken by the Committee.
The Chairperson emphasised the importance of compromise.
Adv Masutha respected Members’ commitment to other Committees
and understood their resistance. An afternoon meeting would not be feasible due
to the departure time for the conference in Poland. He proposed that the
briefing on the Department’s policy framework take place in the week of 21
March. Multi-portfolio Committees should be invited as Comprehensive Social
Security was an interdepartmental issue.
Ms C Dudley (ACDP) agreed that it would be beneficial to align with other
Committees.
Adv Masutha confirmed that the proposal was to
attempt to schedule a meeting for the Wednesday of the week of 21 March, with the
hope that the other Committees would agree to a joint effort.
Ms Dudley requested that priority be placed on issues concerning the Childrens Bill, as the Committee would have to set aside
time for a briefing on the issues.
Adv Masutha expressed the importance of joint efforts
to clarify issues and reduce duplication in the legislation.
The Chairperson noted that the Committee adopted its programme, as amended.
The meeting was adjourned.
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents
Present
- We don't have attendance info for this committee meeting
Download as PDF
You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.
See detailed instructions for your browser here.