ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS.                  

 

Committee Chairperson: Hon. Mrs W S Newhoudt - Druchen

 

Committee Deputy Chairperson: Hon.  Mr D D Gamede

 

Committee Whip: Hon. Ms E Ngaleka  

 

Committee Secretary: Mrs L S Matshikiza

 

Period: January December 2006

 

 

1.                   ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE: The Committee is established by the Joint Rules (Rules 128 32 and 132A–132 E) respectively.

                                 

2.                   FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE:  In terms of Rule 132 D of the Joint Rules of Parliament the Committee (a) must monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement in the quality of life and status of children, youth and disabled persons in South Africa, with special reference to the Government’s commitments in respect of any applicable international instruments and to duties and responsibilities in respect of any applicable legislation; and (b) may make recommendations to both or either of the Houses, or any joint or House committee on any matter arising from paragraph (a ).

 

 

3.                   DECISIONS: A question before the Joint Committee is decided when there is agreement among the majority of the members.

 

4.                   QUORUM: The Committee can only vote when there are 12 members present in a committee meeting as follows: The guiding rule is 50 divided by two plus one. The Committee has 22 full members, that is, (NA 13 and NCOP 9). This number divided by two equals to 11 members and the addition of one member equals to 12 members, therefore the committee cannot take a decision without having 12 members present.  In terms of the National Assembly Rules Committee decision the number of Portfolio Committees was reduced to 13. In regard to other committees other than portfolio committees, composition to be decided on merit.

 

5.                   The Committee has an oversight and monitoring role on the following sectors:  Office of the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP); Office on the Rights of a Child (ORC); National Youth Commission (NYC) and Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF). OSDP and their mandate is as follows: :                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

6.                   (i)The mandate of the OSDP is to ensure that all disability issues including the objectives of the Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS), regional, continental and other international initiatives relating to disability are incorporated into all policies and programmes of all spheres of governments; including all line departments within all spheres of government. The mandate primarily derived from the Constitution, the political and transformation objective of Government; namely “creating a better life for all” and the INDS.

 

7.                    (ii) The overall mandate of the NYC derives from the National Youth Commission Act, No 109 of f 1996 as amended in 2000, which outlines the objectives of the Commission. NYC’s vision is to create “an enabling environment in which youth can realise their potential and contribute to the consolidation of a caring societyand its mission is to coordinate, promote and monitor youth development through the implementation on of an integrated youth development framework.

 

8.                   (iii) ORC: The ORCs’ strategic objective is to provide leadership in the development, application and management of the National Children’s Rights Programme.

 

9.                   (iv) UYF : The UYF ’ is  registered as a section 21 Company (not for gain) and is classified as a National Public Entity under Part B, Schedule 3 of the Public Finance Management Act of 1999. The UYF is mandated to facilitate and promote the creation of jobs and skills development for young South Africans, aged between the ages 18 to 35 years. It also makes strategic investments that facilitate opportunities for young people to acquire skills, to access jobs or pursue meaningful self-employment opportunities through various initiatives.       bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn                                                                                                                           

 

10.               COMMITTEE MEETINGS : FIRST QUARTER

 

Date and time started

Venue

Agenda and  Presenters

Presenters

Minutes

 

 

10 March

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Room V475, 4th Floor, Old Assembly Wing

Briefing on Operational Plan and Budget of the National Youth Commission (NYC)

Briefing on Operational Plan and Budget of the Office of the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP) as it relates to the State of Nation Address, Discussion of Committee Business Plan 2006 – 2007; Consideration and Adoption of the Committee Annual Report 2005 - 2006

 

Mr L Mboyi, Chief Executive Officer: NYC

Mr J Mbalula, Chairperson: NYC

Mr B Palime: Acting Director: OSDP

Ms Doorsamy: OSDP
Adopted

24 March 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Room E444, Fourth Floor, New Wing

Briefing on Company Policy for Children, Youth and Disabled Persons with specific reference to the unfair treatment of disabled passengers in Lilongwe, Malawi by South African Airways, ComAir and British Airways.

 

Ms J O’ Sullivan, Head Corporate Communications, SAA;

Mr A Meyer, Manager Cape Town SAA

Mr D Young , Manager : British Airways

Adopted

29 March

 

 

 

Committee Room 2, 120 Plein Street

Briefing on Parliamentary policy for people with special needs

 

Mr J  Phaweni, Manager : Policy Unit , Parliament

Ms  L Harper, Manager : Members’ Facilities, Parliament 

Adopted

 

 

5.1        COMMITTEE MEETINGS: SECOND QUARTER

 

 

Dates and time started