ATC240508: Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture on the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill [B41B – 2023], dated 08 May 2024

NCOP Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture

Report of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture on the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill [B41B – 2023], dated 08 May 2024.

The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture (the Committee), having received submissions on the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill [B41B – 2023] (National Assembly – Sec 75) and having considered the written submissions; reports as follows:

1. Introduction

The draft Bill proposes to amend the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Act, 1997, so as to delete, amend and insert certain definitions; to provide for consequential amendments in certain provisions; to clarify that the Institute is a public entity and is the National Anti-Doping Organisation in the Republic; to provide for Results Management; to provide that investigations by the Department must be conducted in a manner that is fair, transparent, just and equitable, that punitive measures may only be imposed by the Department after a finding of non-compliance; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

2. The Select Committees process followed in processing the Bill.

On the 26^th of March 2024, the National Assembly passed the SAIDS Amendment Bill, which was subsequently referred to the National Council of Provinces. On the 28^th  of March 2024, the Select Committee called for written submissions by all interested parties on the Bill until the 19^th of April 2024. A written submission was received from the Western Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture calling for amendments to the wording made in certain areas in the Bill. However, in response to the written submission by the Western Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, an entity of the National Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture indicated that the amendments suggested by the Western Province Department will not significantly affect the content within the Bill and may delay the adoption to the Bill, further risking South Africa’s compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines. They therefore requested the members of the Select Committee to reconsider any further amendments to the B-version of the Bill and accept the Bill as is.

 

3. Outcome of the Select committees’ consideration of the SAIDS Amendment Bill

 

On Wednesday the 8^th of May, the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts, and Culture having deliberated on and considered the subject of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill [B41B-2023], referred to it as a section 75 Bill, reports that it has agreed to adopt the proposed Bill without amendments.

 

4. Consideration of the Committee’s Report

The committee considered the report on the process of the finalising the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill [B41B-2023] and adopted the report without amendments.

 

 

Report to be considered.