Final Report on Sexual Abuse of Children

Meeting report

TASK GROUP ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
3 May 2002
REPORT FINALIZATION

Chairperson: E Saloogee

Documents handed out
Report on child abuse

Summary
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the Task Team was still deliberating on the report. Six out of the eleven sections had been completed and therefore the report could not be adopted as yet. He promised members that the completed report would be circulated for perusal before the scheduled meeting on14 May 2002.

Minutes
The Chairperson said the Task Team was still considering the technical aspects of the report. He reminded members that the oral submissions were quite substantial. So far they had managed to complete six of the subsections and they had to work on five more in order to complete the report. He was confident that by next week the report would be ready for submission to the office of the Speaker and a date would be set for the debate on the National Assembly. Meanwhile members were asked to consider the report with their colleagues and political parties.

Discussion
Ms L Mabe (ANC) said the way the interim report had been structured was much appreciated.

The Chairperson said it was a bigger task than they thought. Members would be given sufficient time to study the report and it should not be just a case of presenting the report for adoption. On the 14 May 2002 the portfolio committee is scheduled to spend the whole day deliberating on the report.

Ms R Southgate (ACDP) asked the Chairperson if there was any possibility of the meeting being held on the Monday afternoon.

Mr S Dithebe (ANC) suggested that they rather leave it for Tuesday because Monday was a very busy day with the study group meetings. He added that in future reports should be numbered.

The Chairperson said members would find a lot of mistakes on the report as it is still a raw text and asked Mr Dithebe to relay his suggestion to the Task Team that was deliberating on the finalization of the report.

The meeting was adjourned.