Discussion on planned International Study Tour to Belgium and Bulgaria

Science and Technology

20 June 2012
Chairperson: Ms M Dunjwa (ANC) (Acting)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee met to discuss its upcoming study tour to Belgium and Bulgaria during the parliamentary recess. Members were informed that permission had been granted to visit Belgium but no consent had been given about Bulgaria. The Committee would get confirmation from the House Chairperson in the following week about this. The Committee Researcher gave a briefing on the South Africa/European Union (EU) Technology Cooperation, as South Africa was one of the EU trading partners, and a science and technology trading partner. She also included background on the groups the Committee would be visiting, but acknowledged a lack of information because of language barriers with Bulgarian institutions.

Meeting report

Welcome
Ms Shanaaz Isaacs, Committee Secretary, welcomed the Members to their rather informal meeting regarding their international study tour.

Ms M Dunjwa (ANC), the Committee Whip and Acting Chairperson, stated that the Chairperson had another commitment and was therefore unable to attend the meeting. The Chairperson had instructed Ms Dunjwa to preside over the meeting. She proposed the Committee deal with the issue of minutes, and then look into the preparations for the international trip.

Ms J Kloppers-Lourens (DA) said she had only received the minutes that day, and hoped that the Committee would not approve them, as Members had not had time to review them.

Ms Dunjwa said that was an important question, and asked other Members to give their input on this matter.

Ms Z Ndlazi (ANC) said that all other minutes had been attended to, so the Committee only needed to attend to the last few sets of minutes.

Ms P Mocumi (ANC) said she was not sure how much time the Committee had. Based on the time, she suggested Members review the minutes now since it contained information already dealt with. Members were just checking to make sure the minutes accurately captured what happened, and if minutes were ready for adoption. She noted Parliament adjourned at the end of the week, so going through them was necessary.

Mr P Smith (IFP) said the Committee could go through minutes as he had just read them and they looked fine. He hoped that the Committee would discuss the trip first.

Ms Dunjwa said the Committee would deal with the trip and then reconvene an hour later to adopt the minutes, if Members were available.

Ms S Plaatjie (COPE) said she did not think it would take that much time. She also hoped to discuss the trip first and then go through minutes.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens said she did not believe speed reading the minutes was appropriate.

Ms Dunjwa asked Members to begin discussion on the trip. Thereafter, Members would be given 45 minutes to go through the minutes, and then meet again to adopt them. Moving on, she explained the Chairperson had mandated someone to go to the House Chair to clear up any issues and problems with their travel plans.

Discussion of International Study Visit
Ms Isaacs said that the Committee would have to wait until Monday for a response from the House Chair.

Ms Dunjwa replied that the Chairperson should speak to the House Chair concerning this matter. According to her understanding permission had been granted to visit Belgium but no consent had been given about Bulgaria

Ms Isaacs said that cost was not an issue, as Belgium could only accommodate them for a week, which was why the Committee was adding Bulgaria with a cost difference of only R42000.

Mr Smith suggested members fill out the forms, so they would be finished regardless of what happened.

Ms Dunjwa asked the members to fill in what they were supposed to.

Ms Isaacs said that in terms of what was proposed at the previous meeting, there was an itinerary proposed.

Ms Dunjwa said that was fine, and asked for copies to be distributed by the Committee Researcher.

Ms Renee Osborne-Mullins, Committee Researcher, said she wrote two short briefs on the South Africa/European Union (EU) Technology Cooperation, as South Africa was one of the EU trading partners, and a science and technology trading partner. She also included background on the groups the Committee would be visiting, but acknowledged a lack of information because of language barriers with Bulgarian institutions. There was meeting information, South Africa/EU Science and Tech Agreement, programs that fell under “framework programs”, and their mission in Belgium and what they do. There was also a progress report from 2010 on EU and South Africa. She also inserted a pamphlet on Nuclear Power in Bulgaria. She said while Members were on recess, they could contact her, if there were any gaps in the information she provided them.

Ms Dunjwa said the documents would be circulated to the committee members.

Ms Osborne-Mullins said English Translation sites did not offer complete information.

Ms Dunjwa asked members to leave contact details for communication purposes regarding their study visit.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens asked if there was a possibility of getting information from the Embassy of Bulgaria, as they were the ones that invited the Committee for the visit.

Ms Dunjwa requested the members read the information for their visit.

Ms Isaacs said Ms Nina Pasensie, Secretary to the Chairperson, and Ms Osborne-Mullins were there to assist Members in filling out their forms.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens asked to have the members walked through the forms.

Members proceeded to fill out their forms.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens then asked if members would be departing as a group, and wanted to clarify departure time and information.

Ms Dunjwa said she wanted to make sure all members were clear as to what time they were expected to be at certain places.

Ms Isaacs said individual times were not included in the programme. She asked if Members were fine with the way she worked out the booking.

Ms Dunjwa also discussed further departure details. She thanked Ms Osbourne-Mills for her documents, and noted that any new developments through the office of the chair would be communicated to Members. Ms Osbourne-Mills would also assist them with any more issues related to their study visit. She also encouraged members to communicate with ambassadors from the countries on their study tour.

Ms Dunjwa thanked the members, and returned to the issue of minutes, asking if Members wanted the opportunity to review them now.

Adoption of minutes
Ms Dunjwa tabled the minutes for consideration.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens hoped in the future the Secretary would number paragraphs, rather than bullet them for reference purposes.

Ms Dunjwa proposed the Committee review the minutes.

Minutes for 15 February 2012

There were no changes made.

Ms Plaatije moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Mocumi seconded the motion.

Minutes for 22 February 2012
Members asked for minor stylistic changes.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Ndlazi seconded the motion.

The minutes were adopted with amendments.

Minutes for 29 February 2012
No changes or comments were made.

Ms Ndlazi moved to adopt the minutes. Ms Plaatjie seconded the motion.

The minutes were adopted with no amendments.

Minutes for 7 March 2012
No changes or comments were made.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Mocumi seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved with no changes.

Minutes for 18 April 2012
No changes or comments were made.

Ms Ndlazi moved to adopt the minutes, with Ms Plaatjie seconding the motion.

The minutes were approved with no changes.

Minutes for 19 April 2012
Minor grammar changes were made.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens moved to adopt the minutes with the recommended changes, Ms Mocumi seconded the motion.

Minutes for 25 April 2012
There were no comments or changes made.

Ms Plaatije moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Mocumi seconded the motion.

The minutes were adopted with no amendments.

Minutes for 2 May 2012

Minor grammar changes were made.
Ms Ndlazi moved to adopt the minutes with the corrections, Ms Plaatjie seconded the motion.

Minutes for 9 May 2012
No changes were made.

Ms Mocumi moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Plaatjie seconded the motion.

The minutes were adopted with no amendments.

Minutes for 23 May 2012
No comments or changes were made.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Ndlazi seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved with no changes.

Minutes for 30 May 2012
Minor grammar changes were made.

Ms Kloppers-Lourens moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Mocumi seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved with no changes.

Minutes for 5 June 2012
Members asked for clarification on the attendance of presenters to be more accurately reflected in their minutes.

Mr Smith moved to adopt the minutes, Ms Dunjwa seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved with no changes.

Minutes for 13 June 2012
One spelling change was made.

Mr Smith moved to adopt the minutes; Ms Dunjwa seconded the motion with the changes made.

The minutes were approved as amended.

Close
Ms Dunjwa thanked the Members for attending the meeting. Ms Isaacs had not put together a programme for the coming term, but the next meeting would be on 8 August, unless Members heard otherwise.

Ms Osbourne-Millins asked for contact details should Members wish to receive information at during the recess.

Ms Dunjwa thanked the Committee for the opportunity to chair the meeting, and looked forward to seeing members at the airport for their study tour.

The meeting was adjourned.

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