Election of Committee Chairperson

Meeting report

Election of Committee Chairperson
The Committee Secretary Mr Lubabalo Nodada, temporarily chaired the meeting and welcomed members to the first meeting of the Committee the purpose of which was to elect a Committee Chairperson. The election of Committee Chairperson was in terms of Rule 91(a) of the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) Rules. He explained that the procedure for the election of Committee Chairperson would firstly entail calling for nominations from members for candidates as Committee Chairperson. If there was only a single nomination then there was no need for voting to take place. If however there were more than one nomination then the matter would have to be put to a vote. He opened the floor to members for nominations.

Mr T Matibe (ANC, Limpopo) nominated Ms D Mahlangu (ANC, Mpumalanga) for the position of Committee Chairperson.

Mr Y Carrim (ANC, KwaZulu-Natal) seconded Ms Mahlanga’s nomination.

Mr Nodada asked Ms Mahlanga if she accepted her nomination as Committee Chairperson.

Ms Mahlanga accepted her nomination.

Mr Nodada asked if there were any other nominations by members.

Mr S Aucamp (DA, Northern Cape) nominated Mr D Ryder (DA, Gauteng) as a candidate for the position of Committee Chairperson.

Mr F du Toit (FF+, North West) seconded Mr Ryder’s nomination.

Mr Ryder accepted his nomination.

Mr Nodada stated that there were thus two nominees as candidates for the position as Committee Chairperson. As previously explained the matter would have to go to a vote in the absence of the two candidates. The candidates would have to step out of the meeting whilst the voting took place.

Mr Matibe asked if it was a rule that the candidates should step out whilst the voting took place.

Mr Nodada responded that it was not a rule but rather accepted practice.

Both Ms Mahlangu and Mr Ryder stepped out of the meeting in order for the voting to commence.

Mr Nodada asked members to raise their hands in support of Ms Mahlangu as Committee Chairperson. Four members from the ANC majority voted in favour of Ms Mahlanhu. The four ANC members were Mr Carrim, Mr Matibe, Mr E Njandu (ANC, Western Cape) and Mr Z Mkiva (ANC, Eastern Cape). He then asked members to raise their hands in non support of Ms Mahlangu’s nomination. Mr Aucamp and Mr du Toit did not support Ms Mahlangu’s nomination. Mr M Moletsane (EFF, Free State) abstained from proceedings. Mr Nodada then went on to ask members who supported Mr Ryder’s nomination to give an indication of such. Mr Aucamp and Mr du Toit supported Mr Ryder’s nomination as Committee Chairperson. Mr Nodada concluded that the results of the voting were four members in support of Ms Mahlangu as Committee Chairperson and two members in support of Mr Ryder. There was one abstention. Ms Mahlangu was the clear winner and was declared Committee Chairperson. Both Ms Mahlangu and Mr Ryder re-entered the meeting and they were informed of the outcome of the voting.

Ms Mahlangu humbly accepted the position as Committee Chairperson and said she was honoured to have been chosen. She was well aware that it was a huge responsibility. The Committee, with all members’ combined experience, should endeavour to serve SA and its citizens better. She saw her role as that of a facilitator. The idea was to encourage teamwork irrespective of members’ political affiliations. All members needed to contribute. The work of the Committee was legislative via timeframes. She addressed Mr Ryder specifically and said that she would depend on his skills and experience greatly. This was not however to the exclusion of other members. Skills and experience of all members would be appreciated. Members had to respect one another. She pointed out that the Committee together with its sister committee ie Select Committee on Finance would most probably have a great deal of joint meetings and work together. She added that she was open to criticism and to suggestions from members. The Committee Programme would be looked at as the Committee needed to hit the ground running. It was important for the Committee to go through the Legacy Report of its predecessor. She asked members if they wished to comment on anything.

Mr Mkiva, on behalf of the ANC, congratulated Ms Mahlangu on her appointment as Committee Chairperson.

Mr Ryder, on behalf of the DA, too congratulated Ms Mahlangu on her appointment and said that he looked forward to working with fellow members and to hold the Executive to account.

Mr du Toit, on behalf of the FF+, also congratulated Ms Mahlangu on her appointment and said that he too looked forward to a productive term.

Mr Carrim, on the Committee’s Programme, explained that there was an overall programme that was provided by the Chief Whip’s Office into which committees had to slide in dates for meetings. He noted that the Committee could tentatively meet next week Wednesday, 3 July 2019 to deal with three issues ie Exit Report (Legacy Report of Committee’s predecessor), the legislative framework within which the Committee operated and finally the rules around the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).

Ms Mahlangu stated that Mr Carrim made a good suggestion.

The Committee agreed to Mr Carrim’s suggestion to meet the following Wednesday to deal with the aforementioned matters.

Mr Nodada brought it to the Committee’s attention that some work was being done by Committee Section on induction for members of the Committee. Committee Staff would share with the respective Chairperson’s of the Committee and of the Select Committee on Finance what had been done thus far.

Mr Matibe said that induction for members was a good idea.

Mr Carrim suggested that the two Chairpersons, together with Committee staff, should meet after the present meeting to discuss administrative issues.

Members agreed to the suggestion.

The meeting was adjourned.