Election of Chairperson

Meeting report

Election of Chairperson
The Committee Secretary called for nominations.

Ms M A Molebatsi (ANC), nominated Mr F Beukman as the Chairperson and the nomination was seconded by Ms L Mabija (ANC).

The nominee accepted the nomination. There were no further nominations.

Consequently, the Committee Secretary declared Mr Beukman as the Committee Chairperson based on the unanimous agreement of the Committee members. He was requested to assume his duties immediately.
 
The Chairperson thanked the secretary for overseeing the election process. He congratulated both the experienced and the new MPs for their deployment to the Portfolio Committee on Police. He hoped that the Committee would work as a team to ensure proper accountability. The Committee would demand proper police conduct in line with the Constitution and the execution of the National Development Plan would be closely monitored. Furthermore, the Content Adviser to the Committee, Mr I Kinnes, and the Committee Secretary had prepared a pack of documents which would be distributed to members before they left the meeting. The pack was the Legacy Report by the previous Committee of the Fourth Parliament and the analysis of the budget of the institutions that are currently under the oversight of the Portfolio Committee on Police. Committee members should kindly go through the documents in detail in preparation for next week’s hearings. The relevant legislation not included in the pack must also be read by the Committee members.

Committee Programme
The Chairperson referred Members to the third document which was the draft programme for the subsequent week’s meeting. The programme suggested that the Committee meet Wednesday 2 July through to Friday 4 July and also Tuesday 8 July to ensure all the budget hearings were completed so the Committee's Report to be tabled at the National Assembly was ready before the 11 July deadline as mandated. He suggested that the three institutions that received their main budget from Parliament, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Civilian Secretariat of Police and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) be considered whilst the fourth institution Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) be left until the following session.          

Ms D Kohler- Barnard (DA) congratulated Mr Beukman as the Chairperson of the Committee. Commenting on the draft programme, she was unavailable on Wednesday because she had to attend the by-election in her constituency. She said, however, that her deputy would represent her at the meeting. She also pointed out that there would be caucus meeting on that Thursday morning and she doubted if anyone would be exempted from the caucus.

The Chairperson responded that the caucus meeting was a provisional programme that must still be approved.

Mr M Mncwango (IFP) also congratulated the Chairperson. He would have to be at the by-election in his constituency, therefore would be unavailable for the Wednesday meeting.

The Chairperson said it would be appreciated if he could send an alternate member to stand in for him.

Mr G Radebe (ANC) congratulated the Chairperson on his appointment and he hoped that he would through this Committee, move the South African Police forward.

The Chairperson replied that in the absence of other comments, the draft programme would be provisionally adopted.

Ms Kohler- Barnard inquired whether the budget vote debate days had been fixed.

The Chairperson answered in the negative. He alerted the Committee members that at each meeting, a practice note would be brought to the Committee. The purpose of the practice note was to ensure that when matters arose or when any presentation were brought before the Committee, they would be focused and would deal with the relevant matters. The note would also indicate the timelines for the issues raised. He cautioned the secretariat that next week’s presentations must be received by Members as soon as possible. The Committee would not tolerate presentations being given to members on the day of the presentation or the previous day.     
                                              
The meeting was adjourned.

MPs in Attendance:     

Mr F Beukman (ANC)
Mr G S Radebe (ANC – Alternate Member)
Ms M A Molebatsi (ANC)
Ms M P Mmola (ANC)
Ms L Mabija (ANC)
Ms D H Mathebe (ANC)
Ms N Mathebe (ANC – Alternate Member)
Ms N Ndonen (ANC – Alternate Member)
Ms D Kohler- Barnard (DA)
Mr Z N Mbhele (DA)
Mr D L Twala (DA)
Mr M A Mncwango (IFP)