Annual Report of the Standing Committee on Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions

ANNUAL REPORT: STANDING COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE MEMBERS’ LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ANS SPECIAL PETITION 2005

Report of the Standing Committee Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions, as follows:

Ms MP Mentor MP (Chairperson)

1. Introduction

National Parliament does not have an Act in place to deal specifically with petitions or legislative proposals. The only instrument we basically rely on are the Rules of Parliament, which governs the functioning of the Committee.

The overriding factor to be borne in mind when dealing with petitions and Legislative proposals is the principle of public participation as enshrined in the Constitution. Members of the public should in essence feel that their voices are being heard and that their concerns have been met by an interactive process between themselves and their elected representatives.

A private Legislative proposals is a legislative proposal initiated by a member of either House who is not a Minister.

A petition, on the other hand , is a request either for a demand for a favour or for the redress of an injustice. In its simplest form, a petition is a way of bringing grievances to the attention of the legislative authority.

Vision: To deal expeditiously with private legislative proposals after a memorandum has been referred to the Committee by the Speaker, as well as with petitions after a petition have been tabled and referred by the Speaker to the Committee.

2. SUPPORT

2.1 Control Committee Secretary: Mr Lusanda Myoli

1.
Period from April 2005 to December 2005

2.2 Committee Secretary: Ms Zodwa Mahapa

Period From March 2005 – August 2005

2.3. Committee Secretary (Stand-in): Kholisile Lobi

2.
Period from September 2005 to December 2005

2.4 Committee Assistant: Mr. Sidwell Mahlabela

1.
Period from March 2005 to December 2005

2.5 Secretary to Chairperson: Ms N Fakier

Period from March 2005 to December 2005

3. Mandate of the Committee: In accordance with the Rule 211 of the NA Rules, the mandate of the Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions is to make recommendation to Assembly on all legislative proposals made by Assembly members intending to introduce bills and referred to the Committee, and all special petitions referred to the Committee by the Speaker.

4. NARRATIVE LEGISLATION

The Committee only considers Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions.

5. COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The Committee met 11 times from 02 March 2005 to 15 November 2005.

6. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

The Standing Committee on Private Members Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions received 3 Legislative Proposals:

1.
2. Legislative Proposal on the Magistrate Courts Amendment Bill by Mr LK Joubert (MP)
3. Legislative Proposal on Admission of Advocates Amendment Bill by Adv HC Schmidt (MP)
Legislative Proposal on Establishment of Represented Political Parties Election Fund Bill by Mr PF Smith (MP)

7. SPECIAL PETITIONS

The Standing Committee on Private Members Legislative Proposals and Special Petitions received 2 petitions:

(1)Petition for Pension by Ms CJ Kellerman.

(2)Petition for injury on duty compensation by Mrs H van der Merwe

8. Budget of the Committee.

Expenditures of the Committee are reflected in the attached financial statements.

9. Outstanding Matters:

1.
2. Legislative Proposal on the Magistrates Court Amendment Bill by Mr LK Joubert MP.
3. Petion for Pentions by Mrs CJ Kellerman
Petition for injury on duty compensation by Mrs H van der Merwe

Report to be considered

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Ms MP Mentor, MP

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Committee Secretary Date

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Control Committee Secretary Date………………………………………….