Study tour of the UK, Canada, and USA; Human Cloning Prohibition Bill

Meeting report

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS & PETITIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
25 March 1998
STUDY TOUR OF THE U.K., CANADA, AND U.S.A; HUMAN CLONING PROHIBITION BILL

The agenda item, the Third Amendment to The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, was not discussed as the presenter, P. de Lille (PAC) was ill. The Study Tour and the Human Cloning Prohibition Bill were introduced but not discussed.

Feedback from the Study Tour delegation was presented by P.A. Hendrickse (ANC). Mr Hendrickse indicated that the report had not yet been finalised as he was expecting an input from other committee members. In addition, he explained that the document really consisted of draft rules and therefore, the rules committee should review it as should each party. V.B. Ndlovu (IFP) suggested that the committee discuss the content of the report. Mr Hendrickse stated that the report should be tabled as an information document and that no party should be bound by it. Mr Ndlovu argued that the draft document should be finalised before being sent to the rules committee. Prof du Toit (ANC) suggested that the parties look at the draft before it is finalised. A consensus was reached on Mr Ndlovu and Prof du Toit's proposals and it was resolved that the report should be finalised before going to the Rules Committee for discussion.

The committee determined that L.M. Green (ACDP) should not present the Human Cloning Prohibition Bill as planned. Instead, the ACDP should scrutinize the bill and create a more detailed and informative document before presentation to the committee. After a long and rather contentious deliberation, the committee agreed to continue discussion of the items at the next committee meeting, to be held on 6 May at 11:00 a.m.