Committee Annual Report, Business Plan, Programme and KwaZulu-Natal Visit: discussion

Meeting report

LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
9 February 2005
COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT, BUSINESS PLAN, PROGRAMME AND KWAZULU-NATAL VISIT: DISCUSSION

Chairperson: Rev P Moatshe (ANC)

Document handed out:
Draft Committee Programme for 2005

SUMMARY
The Committee met to discuss their Annual Report 2004, their Business Plan, Programme 2005 and Budget 2005 – 2006. However, as most Members had not studied the Annual Report, they only briefly discussed the budget. With regards to the Committee provincial visit to KwaZulu-Natal, the Committee would meet in the following week to discuss the schedule and logistics of this trip.

MINUTES
The Committee Control Secretary, Ms N Manjezi, stated that there was a need to cut down on the budget. Mr M Mzizi (IFP) asked for a breakdown of the budget in order to justify the cut.

Ms Olifant (ANC) stated that the Committee had tabled a budget of R95 million. However, they were only given R23 million by Treasury. The needed to review their programme by prioritising before the next recess.

Ms B Dlulane (ANC) enquired about the reason for the unused surplus of the last financial year. SCOPA had pointed out that the Committee had not used their budget effectively. This might be a possible reason for the lower budget allocation.

Mr Mzizi noted that they would need to go through the Annual Report and justify priorities in relation to the budget.

Mr Van Rooyen commented on R167 000 spent in the previous year, which meant the Committee had only spent 50 % of their budget. This was unacceptable as they were not being efficient.

The Chairperson stated that it was necessary for the Committee to make a follow up visit on issues raised in local communities in KwaZulu-Natal. The Chairperson noted that the Committee would meet in the following week to discuss the schedule and logistics of this trip.

The meeting was adjourned.