National Water Amendment Bill: adoption

MINUTES
Chairperson Mr P Moatshe opened the meeting by giving the opportunity to the parties to voice their opinions on the amended National Water Amendment Bill [B 53B-99].

The Democratic Party, New National Party, African National Congress, and United Democratic Movement all expressed their support for the Bill. No other political parties were present.

The National Water Amendment Bill was agreed to by the committee.

The Chairperson asked if it was possible to have the reports on the Provincial visits by the end of the week. One Member from the New National Party pointed out that different Provinces have different situation and in some cases completing the reports by the end of the week may be too difficult. A Member from the African National Congress agreed that some problems may be encountered but thought it was quite important to have the reports in as soon as possible. The Member from the New National Party asked for clarity on whether the report were simply to be done by the Secretariat or a combination of the Members and the Secretariat. The Chair proposed that Members get the reports before Parliament adjourns at the end of the week. The Members agreed. Another member of the NNP made a request that interpreters be provided on Provincial visits to assure that all messages are understood properly.

The Chair mentioned a motion that the Democratic Party made to have a debate on fisheries. One of the Members from the New National Party inquired as to the status of the debate. The Democratic Party responded that it was actually a Member Motion but would be conducted as a Debate of public importance because the Minister is currently in Morocco. The NNP and African National Congress both agreed to participate in the debate. The Democratic Party also made a request that the Members be given the minutes of the previous meeting beforehand. The Chair noted the request.

The meeting adjourned.