Engagement on Investment Policy and Visit to One-Stop-Shop in Cape Town

Meeting report

Election of Acting Chairperson

The Committee Secretary took the chair and welcomed all present. He informed the Committee that, in terms of National Assembly Rule 159, it must elect one of its members as the Acting Chairperson of the Committee. 

The Committee Secretary called for nominations.

Ms J Hermans (ANC), seconded by Mr S Mbuyane (ANC), nominated Ms P Mantashe for election as the Acting Chairperson.

There being no further nominations, the Committee Secretary declared Ms P Mantashe the duly elected Acting Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry.

Opening Remarks

The Acting Chairperson welcomed all Members present and requested Mr Harris to address the Committee.

Mr Tim Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Wesgro, welcomed the Committee to the InvestSA office, and expanded on the role that Wesgro plays to encourage investment into Cape Town and the Western Cape. He further expressed hope that the engagement on investment policy would address the challenges faced by investors and that it should lead to further investment in South Africa.

The Acting Chairperson thanked Mr Harris for his welcome address and informed the Committee that it would be receiving a briefing on investment policy which would be followed by a walkabout around the One-Stop Shop. Furthermore, she informed the Committee that under the item, Committee Business, it would consider outstanding Minutes.

Consideration of Draft Minutes

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 16 July 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms N Motaung (ANC), seconded by Mr Mbuyane, moved for the adoption of the minutes.

Agreed.

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 27 August 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms Motaung, seconded by Mr Mbuyane, moved for the adoption of minutes.

Agreed.

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 28 August 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms Hermans, seconded by Ms Motaung, moved for the adoption of minutes.

Agreed.

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 4 September 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms Motaung, seconded by Mr Mbuyane, moved for the adoption of minutes.

Agreed

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 10 September 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms Hermans, seconded by Mr Mbuyane, moved for the adoption of minutes.

Agreed

The Acting Chairperson tabled draft minutes of 11 September 2019 for consideration and adoption.

Ms Motaung, seconded by Mr Mbuyane, moved for the adoption of the minutes.

Agreed.

Briefing on Investment Policy

Mr Yunus Hoosen, Acting Head: Investment SA, dti, briefed the Committee on the role of the One Stop Shops Investment Policy. (See presentation)

Discussion

The Committee deliberated and raised the following key issues:

-The Memorandum of Understanding and key performance areas between the DTI and WESGRO in relation to the one stop shop.

-The inclusion of township and rural economies for investment promotion.

-Reasons for delays in rolling out one stop shops in certain provinces.

-The location of existing and planned one-stop shops.

-Challenges at local municipalities and impact on attracting and maintaining foreign direct investment.

-The one stop shop model and intergovernmental relations with key government departments and entities, such as the Department of Home Affairs, and the South African Revenue Service.

-What the one stop shop model is benchmarked against and the impediments to it being an effective clearing house.

-Initiatives to improve the ease of doing business, including the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s integrated e-business portal that is being launched.

-The impact of violence on investment promotion and facilitation.

-The Committee appreciated the response and requested further input from the DTI through the Secretariat.

-Walkabout

The Committee took a tour of the building, and it was briefed on the operations by Mr S Katjie.

The meeting adjourned at 13:00.