Meeting with delegation from Namibian Committee on Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs

SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
26 October 1999
MEETING WITH DELEGATION FROM NAMIBIAN COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SUMMARY
A delegation from Namibia's Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs Committee met with members to gain an understanding of how the committees in South Africa operate. The two groups exchanged ideas about government and problems that each country's administration faces.

MINUTES
Chairman Mr J L Mahlangu welcomed members of the Namibian delegation and apologised for the absence of several committee members. He explained that some were participating in the Open Democracy Bill Ad Hoc Committee and would be coming in late. The chairperson of the Namibian delegation thanked the members for allowing them to come to South Africa and study the committee process. He briefly explained the Namibian parliamentary system where the house decides if a bill needs to go to a committee to gain further input. Bills have 90 days to be passed except those dealing with finance which have only 30 days.

Chairperson Mahlangu described the South African parliamentary system, highlighting provincial co-operation with the National Assembly.

Discussion:
Member of Namibian delegation: Do you ever have problems with quorum?

Chairman Mahlangu replied that to take a vote, a quorum was necessary but that a quorum was not needed for discussion. Mr Ackermann (NNP, W Cape) added that there was a fine for members who missed meetings without an apology note.

Mrs Lubidla (ANC, N Cape) asked if the Caprivi saga had ended and if the country had problems with illegal immigrants? She also asked what the government was doing to combat violence against women?

The Namibian chair replied that the problems with Caprivi are under control. He also said that the people were misled by separatist Caprivi Liberation Army leader Mishake Muyongo who wanted to separate from Namibia. He went on to explain that Mr Muyongo was a founding member of the Constitution and that he knowingly went against the Constitution. He also added that security forces in Namibia were ready to deal with those going against the law.

With regard to problems with illegal immigrants, the Namibian delegation blamed vast borders with Angola as one of their dilemmas. It also noted that Namibia has problems with economic immigrants from Zambia and Zaire.

Regarding rape, the Namibian delegation said that they do have people committing serious crimes. Inclusion of women in politics was also discussed. All parties have a quota for the number of women they must include on the ballot list. Recently, at local council level, there was a law amended that said 1/3 of candidates on a list must be female.

The issue of oversight was also touched on.