Clarification of Powers & Functions

Meeting report

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
12 November 1999
CLARIFICATION OF COMMITTEE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Documents handed out:
Draft Joint Rule on Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Persons with Disability

SUMMARY
The Committee discussed direction on the way forward. It was agreed that by Monday, 15 November, all political parties must submit their proposals on the programme of action to the Chairperson and on Tuesday, 16 November, each party would present it to the Committee. After the presentations have been made, a strategic planning workshop will then be organised. The Committee also agreed on training of members in order to equip them to deal with their challenges more professionally, for example, a know how on handling issues affecting children. A press conference was held after the meeting.

MINUTES
The Chairperson, Ms H Bogopane (ANC), stated that the purpose of the meeting was to ascertain what the members wanted to achieve as a Committee. She conceded that the Committee does not have an action plan as yet. Mr V Gore (DP) requested that his party be involved when the action plan is devised. The Chairperson agreed and suggested that the word 'briefing document' should be used, instead of 'action plan'.

The floor was opened for indications of what the functions of the Committee should be.

On draft Joint Rule 132A, Mr Gore interpreted that the Committee has a responsibility to keep its eyes open and to see what is happening on the ground.

A member advised that the international conventions on which South Africa is a signatory must be analysed and checked carefully whether they conform to the upliftment of children, youth and the disabled. Mr M Da Camara (DP) concurred.

A member mentioned that since the Committee is new, people should be informed about it. She indicated that the media would play an important role here. Children, the youth and the disabled must be reached through radios, children and youth programmes, etc. She suggested that this should be the Committee's entry point. She reasoned that NGOs must be accommodated to make presentations and she suggested that this should happen in January.

The Chairperson suggested that on Tuesday, 16 November, each party will be given a chance to make a presentation of what they propose as a programme of action.

Mr C Morkel (NNP) proposed that parties submit their presentations to the Chairperson by Monday, 15 October, so that there is clarity on the day of the meeting. Members supported this suggestion.

The Chairperson said that Parliament must not be allowed to pass legislation that will have an impact on the lives of children and the disabled without input from the Committee. "We need to have a full day when we can plan our agenda", the Chairperson suggested.

Mr T Setona (ANC, Free State) proposed that a strategic planning workshop be held since this is a new committee that is unlike any other. In all the preparations there should be strategic planning and then it will be seen how to move forward as the Committee does not exist in a vacuum. Mr Gore concurred.

Mr Morkel agreed with the suggestion but preferred that the briefings be held first and then the strategic planning workshop.

The Chairperson advised that training should be provided for the members to deal with the various issues pertaining to the committee.

In conclusion, the Chairperson announced that the Committee would host a disability seminar on Monday, 22 November, which will be attended by the Prime Minister of Sweden.

The meeting was adjourned.

Press Conference:
The Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Children, Youth and Persons with Disability, Ms H Bogopane (ANC), announced that she would prefer not to make a statement, but invited the journalists to ask questions.

Q: I would like to know whether similar committees will be set up in the provinces.
A: Deputy Chairperson, Mr Willem (ANC, Eastern Cape): Yes, they will be. As you know this Committee has members of both the National Assembly and the NCOP.

Q: Can you give us a background to the Committee.
A: Even though the Government was criticised for having too many committees, Government still felt a need existed for its establishment. A chairperson has been elected and it is a fully-fledged Committee that is ready to work.

Q: You indicated earlier the media will be important; can you explain why.
A: Yes, to keep us on our toes and to inform the children, youth and the disabled out there about our existence and the role we play. It will also be a channel on how we are progressing.

Q: It seems you will come across a lot of overlapping with other committees, for example, education and health, which deals with children.
A Yes, I acknowledge we will be overlapping, but our role will be more of monitoring and evaluation. We have powers to make recommendations to both Houses. So, it is more to highlight the issues we are concerned with, rather than interfering.

Q Do you have anything to say on the national budget.
A We will need to analyse the budget to see whether it addresses our concerns.

Q What kind of research facility do you have.
A We will be provided with a researcher just like other committees. We will create a strong link with NGOs and CBOs which are already in the field that we are engaged in.

There were no further questions.

Appendix 1:
Draft Joint Rule on Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Persons with Disability

The Chief Whip of the Majority Party:

That, subject to the concurrence of the National Council of Provinces, the resolution establishing the Joint Monitoring Committee on Children, Youth and Disabled Persons, which was adopted by the House on 15 September 1999, be rescinded and that in place thereof the following Joint Rules be adopted as Part 12A to follow Part 12:

Part 12A: Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons

Establishment
132A. There is a Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons.

Composition
132B (1) The Joint Committee consists of 17 Assembly members and 9 Council members.

(2)(a) The Speaker must appoint the Assembly members of the Committee on the advice of the Chief Whip of the majority party and the most senior whips of the minority parties concerned.

(b) The Chairperson of the Council must appoint the Council members of the Committee on the advice of the provinces or the parties concerned.

Chairperson and deputy chairperson
132 (C). The Joint Committee must elect one of its members from the one House as its chairperson and another of its members from the other House as its deputy chairperson.

Functions
132 (D). The Joint Committee-
(a) must monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement in the quality of life and status of children, youth and disabled persons in South Africa, with special reference to the Government's commitments in respect of any applicable international instruments and to duties and responsibilities in respect of any applicable legislation, and

(b) may make recommendations to both or either of the houses, or any joint or House committee on any matter arising from paragraph (a).

Decisions
132 (E). A question before the Joint Committee is decided when there is agreement among the majority of the members.