ATC230915: Second Report of National Assembly Rules Committee (NARC) on New Rule on Party Funding and Oversight of Electricity Portfolio, 2023

Rules of the National Assembly

Second Report of National Assembly Rules Committee (NARC) on New Rule on Party Funding and Oversight of Electricity Portfolio, 2023

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly, as Chairperson of the National Assembly Rules Committee, presents the Second Report of the Rules Committee for 2023 as follows:

 

1. Rule on party funding

 

The Constitution of South Africa (1996) provides for different types of funding regimes for political parties represented in Parliament.  Parliament provides for funding in terms of the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act (No 10 of 2009) (FMPPLA). The Political Party Funding Act (No 6 of 2018) also provides for funding to parties.  

 

Section 57(2)(c) of the Constitution provides that the rules and orders of the National Assembly must provide for financial and administrative assistance to each party represented in the Assembly in proportion to its representation.  The National Assembly does not currently have a rule in terms of section 57(2)(c) of the Constitution. 

 

The Rules Committee recommends a rule on party funding for consideration by the Assembly as follows:

 

New Rule 266A

 

“The Assembly must, in accordance with Section 57 of the Constitution, 1996, provide for financial and administrative assistance to each party represented in the Assembly in proportion to its representation, to enable the party and its leader, to perform their functions in the Assembly effectively and may review that policy whenever required.

 

​2. Oversight of Electricity Portfolio

 

In terms of Assembly Rule 225, the Speaker acting with the concurrence of the Rules Committee must establish a range of portfolio committees; assign a portfolio of government affairs to each committee; and determine a name for each committee.

The Rules Committee has decided that the electricity portfolio will not have a new portfolio committee, but that it would fall under the oversight of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises.

 

Report to be considered.