PC Economic Development: Consideration of Outstanding Minutes

Meeting report

Opening remarks
The Chairperson mentioned that the Committee would be considering several outstanding minutes for adoption.

Committee Minutes dated 22 May 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She noted that the previous version had been drafted in the PMG style and specified the individual input of all Members.

Mr K Mubu (DA) mentioned that the Committee would be considering a correction of an old draft of minutes

Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) asked for clarity regarding the second sentence in paragraph 2.1. The minutes said that the new agency, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), was accommodated in the old Act. He could not understand how a new agency could be accommodated in an old Act, while there had been a merger of two agencies

The Chairperson suggested that the Committee should adopt the minutes then consider Mr Gwabaza’s concerns on matters arising

Mr Z Ntuli (ANC) explained that the Committee could amend the applicable legislation to be in line with the new approach.

Mr Mubu wanted to know who was supposed to initiate legislation.

Mr Gcwabaza explained that the Committee or the Minister had the powers to initiate legislation.

The Chairperson said that the Committee should look at the Mandate of SEFA during Committee engagements with the Department.

Mr Gcwabaza moved for adoption and Mr Mubu seconded the motion. The 22 May 2012 minutes were adopted with amendments.

Committee Minutes dated 28 August 2012
The Chairpeson went through with the minutes page by page and invited input from Members.

Mr M Hlengwa (IFP) pointed out a minor amendment in the first sentence of page 2.

Mr X Mabasa (ANC) pointed out that Mr H Hoosan’s (ID) name had been spelt incorrectly.

Mr Ntuli moved for adoption and Mr Hlengwa seconded the motion- the 28 August 2012 minutes were adopted with amendments.

Committee Minutes dated 18 September 2012
The Chairperson tabled the document for consideration.

Mr Hlengwa inserted the word “acting” before the words Director-General.

Mr S Ngonyama (COPE) moved and Mr Gcwabaza seconded the motion. The minutes were accordingly adopted with amendments.

Matters Arising
Mr Hoosan asked about the responses to the matter that was raised under resolution 3.3.

Ms Noluthando Skaka, Committee Secretary, explained that she had received the responses and circulated them to Members.

Mr Gcwabaza (ANC) refered to the document and said that companies like Makro were still importing furniture whilst furniture manufacturing had been identified as a growth sector and it was incentivised.

Ms D Tsotetsi (ANC) asked why there were no bodies to monitor what was coming into the country.

The Chairperson said that the departments were working in silos and they were not co-operating with each other when working on such issues.

Mr Mabasa suggested that the Committee should look at the issue during its strategic plan workshop.

Mr Ntuli suggested that the Committee should also consider looking at cheap imports in the clothing sector.

Committee Minutes dated 23 October 2012
The Chairperson suggested the minutes should be adopted at a later stage because some of the information required appendixes or attachments that were not readily available.

Mr Mubu suggested that the Committee should handle the minutes the following day. The Committee agreed to this suggestion.

Committee Minutes dated 30 January 2012
The Chairperson went through the minute’s page-by-page and invited comments from the floor.

The Chairperson referred to the third resolution on page 8, 3^rd resolution inserted the word “authority” after the word “Commission”.

Ms Tsotetsi suggested the deletion of the word “types” before the words “of briefings” on the third resolution.

Mr Mubu moved for adoption and Mr Gcwabaza seconded the motion, the 30 January 2013 minutes were adopted with amendments.

The meeting was adjourned.