Committee Report on Western Cape Appropriation Bill: Vote 3 and Vote 12

Meeting report

The Committee’s Procedural Officer said, according to the Standing Rules, the Committee must elect one of its Members as Acting Chairperson if the Chairperson is absent.

Mr D America (DA) nominated Mr D Mitchell (DA) as Acting Chairperson and Mr A van der Westhuizen (DA) seconded the proposal.

The Acting Chairperson said the Committee’s Procedural Officer told him agenda point four and five cannot be considered during the meeting. The Committee will consider it in the next meeting. The Committee must first dealt with the consideration and adoption of the Draft Committee Report on the Western Appropriation Bill, 2020, on Vote 3: Provincial Treasury.

Members agreed.

Committee Report on Vote 3: Provincial Treasury

The Acting Chairperson read the Committee Report.

The Draft Report of the Standing Committee on Finance Economic Opportunities and Tourism on Vote 3, Provincial Treasury, in the Schedule to the Western Cape Appropriation Bill [B3-2020] dated 18 March 2020, is as follows:

“The Standing Committee on Finance Economic Opportunities and Tourism deliberated on the subject of Vote 3: Provincial Treasury, in the Schedule to Western Cape Appropriation Bill [B3- 2020], referred to the Committee according to Standing Rule 188, and reports it supports the Vote”

Ms N Nkondlo (ANC) asked if the minutes or some of the deliberations of the Committee had a separate report. She only had a document with resolutions.

The Acting Chairperson said there are minutes, and it will be dealt with under agenda item six: Consideration and Adoption of Draft Committee Minutes. The resolutions are captured with the minutes.

He asked the Committee for proposals.

Mr van der Westhuizen suggested the Acting Chairperson read the last sentence into the record.

The Acting Chairperson said no one raised it, and that is why he was not reading it into the record.

Ms Nkondlo said her understanding was that the Africa National Congress (ANC) registered its minority vote to express its view in the House, and asked if this was part of the resolution in the Report.

The Acting Chairperson said in the last Committee meeting, the Committee agreed, those particular points will stand over and it will consider its adoption in the current meeting. For the record, Ms Nkondlo must state her view. For this reason he had not read it into the Report.

Ms Nkondlo said the ANC would like to express its minority view, to reserve its right to express its view in the House.

In the interests of procedure, the Acting Chairperson said he will read it again:

“The Standing Committee on Finance Economic Opportunities and Tourism deliberated on the subject of Vote 3: Provincial Treasury in the Schedule to Western Cape Appropriation Bill [B3-2020] referred to the Committee according to Standing Rule 188, reports it supports the Vote

According to Standing Rule 90, the ANC expressed its minority view and expressed its right to reserve its view for the House”.

The Committee agreed to this.

Committee Report on Vote 12: Economic Development and Tourism

Mr van der Westhuizen asked that copies of the Report be made available beforehand and proposed the Committee support the Report.

Mr America seconded this proposal.

Ms Nkondlo said the ANC would like to express its minority view to reserve its right to express its position on the vote in the House.

The Acting Chairperson said he would read into the record:

“The Standing Committee on Finance Economic Opportunities and Tourism, having deliberated on the subject of Vote 12, Economic Development and Tourism, in the Schedule to the Western Cape Appropriation Bill [B3-2020], referred to the Committee according to Standing Rule 188, supports the Vote.

According to Standing Rule 90, the ANC expressed its minority view and reserved its right to express its view in the House”

The Acting Chairperson asked if Ms Nkondlo agreed with the wording used to read it into the record, as he amended it from the draft because the Standing Rule 90 refers to minority, and he read minority view into the Report.

Ms Nkondlo agreed.

Committee Minutes dated 12 March 2020

Mr van der Westhuizen proposed the Committee adopt the minutes.

Ms Nkondlo seconded the proposal.

Committee Minutes dated 13 March 2020

The Acting Chairperson said there is an amendment on page one in the first paragraph. This refers to the sentence stating the Chairperson welcomed Committee Members, the Minister, members of the public, and officials from the Provincial Treasury.

Ms Nkondlo said submitting questions to the Minister was not standard practice - it happened because of the Minister being called to Cabinet. She thought this should be captured in the minutes.

The Acting Chairperson said this was captured on page one under “Welcome and Attendance”.

Ms Nkondlo moved for the adoption of the minutes.

Mr van der Westhuizen seconded her motion.

Committee minutes dated 13 March 2020 were adopted with amendments.

The Acting Chairperson said there were no resolutions or actions from the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.