Draft Committee Report on India Studytour: adoption

Meeting report

LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
14 November 2005
DRAFT COMMITTEE REPORT ON INDIA STUDYTOUR: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Reverend P Moatse (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Draft Committee report on India studytour (available shortly at Committee Reports)

SUMMARY
Members briefly considered the Draft Committee report on their India studytour, and adopted it with a few suggestions for more detail. In other Committee routine business, various of the Committee Secretary’s minutes were adopted and the Committee proposed two Members to attend a forestry transformation workshop in the next month pending Party leadership approval.

MINUTES
The Chairperson mentioned that the final provincial mandates on the Forestry Bill would be discussed the following day, the last Committee meeting of the year.

Draft Committee report on India studytour
Mr Watson (DA) felt that it was a comprehensive report. However, there had been no mention of their interaction with the Indian High Commissioner; support received from Departments in Mumbai, New Delhi and Calcutta; their interactions with staff and the reception.

Ms Dlulane (ANC) proposed adoption of the draft report with Mr Watson’s additions. The report was unanimously adopted. The Chairperson asked whether there would be a debate scheduled or if they would just issue a statement.

The Committee agreed to debate the report in early 2006, and that the Chairperson would issue a comprehensive statement on aquaculture.

Mr Adams (ANC) mentioned the New African Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Presidential Indaba in Nigeria. It would be good to have more information on interesting developments in African aquaculture. Perhaps they should look into the possibility of an oversight visit to Nigeria. Mr Watson (DA) added that the document was available.

Further Committee business
Members looked over the Committee Secretary’s minutes of 11, 18 and 26 October and those of 8 November. These were adopted with minor technical amendments.

Mr Watson (DA) referred to a document before the MPs from the House of Traditional Leaders (HTL) on forestry. He felt that traditional leaders were ‘putting everything into reverse gear’ because they had given such a delayed response. This response was dated 11 November, and they were supposed to have responded two weeks before that date. He felt that the HTL should report directly to the National Assembly (NA). The Chairperson agreed. The Committee Secretary, Mr A Bawa, added that the NA would not entertain any late submissions as this was two weeks late. The Committee decided to discuss the issue further the following day.

The Chairperson then presented an invitation from the Forestry Charter Steering Committee. The latter were looking for greater input into their Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Transformation Charter. They were inviting Members to attend their workshop in late November or early December, where a draft would be presented to stakeholders for comment. The Chairperson asked whether the Committee would be attending.

Ms Dlulane (ANC) felt the matter should be referred to the party leadership as the workshop would occur during constituency time. Mr Adams (ANC) agreed but felt that it was best to put forward two names. Ms Matlanyane (ANC) and Mr Adams (ANC) were unanimously proposed to attend.

Mr Watson (DA) wanted to know about the costs. Mr Adams (ANC) replied that the Department would pay.

The meeting was adjourned.