Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry on the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Bill [B36 – 2008] (National Assembly – sec 75), dated 11 September 2008.

The Bill was referred to the Committee on 10 June 2008. In the course of inquiring into the subject of the Bill, the Committee, on 25 June 2008, took a decision to request the Minister to withdraw the Bill due to the following:

· Lack of consultation on the Bill with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry before it was introduced to Parliament.

The Committee considers the Bill to be an instrument containing significant changes to social and economic policy. The Memorandum on the Objects of the Bill states that NEDLAC was consulted before the Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Committee is not however satisfied that section 5 of the National Economic Development and Labour Council Act, 1994 (Act No. 35 of 1994), relating to consultation with NEDLAC, has been complied with. The Committee, therefore recommends that the Bill be rejected due to non-compliance with Section 5 of the NEDLAC Act.

Report to be considered.