Committee Programme: adoption; Upcoming People’s Assembly: discussion

LAND AND ENVIROMENTAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
11 September 2007
COMMITTEE PROGRAMME: ADOPTION; UPCOMING PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY: DISCUSSION

Chairperson: Rev P Moatshe (ANC, North-West)

Documents handed out
Draft Committee Fourth Term Programme

NOT RECORDED

SUMMARY
The Committee agreed on the proposed Programme for the Fourth Term, with amendments.
 
Members received a short briefing on the Mbizana trip, as well as certain logistical arrangements. The Members were also briefed on the Whips meeting that took place and were informed that most members in the cluster were unaware of the undertakings regarding the trip.

MINUTES
Draft Committee Fourth Term Programme
The Committee considered the Programme, and adopted it with amendments.

Upcoming Mbizana Trip
The Committee Secretary, Mr Asgar Bawa, explained that the logistics for the trip was being handled by Parliament’s Public Education Department. The Committee Secretaries were only going as scribes. Since Parliament’s Public Services and Land and Environmental Affairs Select Committees shared the same members, Mbizana had identified issues for the Committees to deal with upon its arrival. It was thought that it would be best to split up the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs. One delegation would go with Public Services Select Committee and the other with Land and Environmental Affairs Select Committee. It was added that the Committee would be coupled with the Members of the Portfolio Committee on Land and Agriculture. The reason for this was because they worked together on the programme and they had similar issues such as agriculture, farmer support and land claim issues in the Mbizana area on their agenda. 

Discussion
Ms M Oliphant (ANC, Kwazulu-Natal) requested that the Whips of the Select Committee brief then on the meeting that took place earlier that morning

Ms H Matlanyane (ANC, Limpopo) replied that it was found that most members were unaware of the events. The members in the cluster were lacking in administration that would indicate details that were pertinent to trip. The relevant information regarding the trip had not reached the Office of the Chief whip.

Mr L Van Rooyen (ANC, Free State) added that confusion was high. There was uncertainty regarding which committee would be attending. The specific phrase used by was that ‘the state of readiness was very low’. He illustrated his point by stating that only seven forms were submitted.

The Committee Secretary responded that the Public Education Department was handling the logistics of the trip. The forms that the Committee Secretaries received from the Public Education Department which they  consequently gave to the Committee Members was merely assistance provided by the Committee Secretaries.

Ms Oliphant commented that it was problematic that different decisions were taken in different forums. She added that it was a problem with the management of the Committees.

The Chairperson agreed that reporting and decision-making should be coordinated.

The Chairperson then adjourned the meeting.