Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs: Committee Programme: adoption

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting. He stated that the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs was one of the most demanding Committees in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The work that the Committee was involved in would demand a lot from individuals; therefore it was important that Members were always present. Because of the Committee’s nature, its work would involve all government departments. There were outstanding Bills that the Committee had to prioritise, as they affected traditional leaders as well as service delivery. Other issues that needed to be clarified involved pubic service and administration. The Committee also needed to improve communication with other Committees in the National Assembly (NA), which in turn, would improve the work of Parliament.

The Chairperson wanted relationships between Members in the Committee to be honourable. Members had an obligation to sit together and resolve issues. The Committee had to discuss the programme so Members could be guided by their purpose in the Committee. It was important for the Committee to adopt the programme so Members could “hit the ground running”. 

It was noted that the Whips were not present at this meeting, as they were attending another meeting. It was also agreed that meetings should be planned well in advance because many Members had to book flights to Cape Town.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked members to comment on the Committee Programme [see document].

A  Member (DA, Northern Cape) noted that meetings scheduled to be held on the 23rd, 24th and 26th June 2009 was problematic, as there would be bi-elections taking place and the Member would be with his constituency. All bi-elections had to take place next week; therefore there might be many Members that could not attend the meeting. He asked if the Committee could shift the three meetings to a week later, as parliamentary recess in the NCOP only started in mid July. This way, all Members would be able to attend the meetings.

A Member stated that he understood his colleague’s concerns but nevertheless felt that the meetings should be held on those dates if the Committee had a quorum.

The Chairperson stated that if the programme was do-able, the Committee would proceed with the meetings. He said that political parties had to devise ways to ensure that their political obligations did not interfere with the Committee’s responsibilities. He asked Members to look at the agendas in the programme and express an opinion on whether they agreed or disagreed with anything.

The Parliamenary Liason Officer from the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Jazze Mokoena stated that the meeting scheduled for the 23rd could be a problem, as the Minister was addressing the media on the Department’s budget vote. Some members of the Department would be attending the budget vote.

The Committee agreed to shift the meeting on the 23rd June from 10am to 2pm. Members agreed to shift the meeting of the 26th to the 25th at 2pm. Since the 26th fell on a Friday, Members expressed preference for holding the meeting on the 25th. Since Caucus usually fell on Thursdays, the meeting would be held at 2pm. The Committee shifted the meeting that was supposed to be held on the 12th August 2009 to the 23rd June 2009 at 2pm.

The Chairperson stated that members would be given the new, amended programme.  

The meeting was adjourned.