Briefing by Home Affairs Director General

Meeting report

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
10 October 2000
BRIEFING BY HOME AFFAIRS DIRECTOR GENERAL

Chairperson : Mr A Mokoena

SUMMARY
The briefing by the Director-General Mr B L Masetlha did not take place since the Director-General and the chairpersons of other committees on Labour, Trade & Industry and Foreign Affairs (excluding Labour) sent apologies and were not in attendance. The Chair stated emphatically that he would not tolerate ministerial interference in the oversight function of the Committee.

GENERAL
Request for a written explanation for the Director General's absence from previous committee meeting
The Chair indicated that the Director-General had in fact sent a written apology to the committee, prior to the meeting of 4 October excusing himself from that meeting.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M Buthelezi, had now forwarded a letter of complaint to the Committee in this regard (that the Committee had in fact received a written apology before the meeting on 4 October but that this had been mislaid, in the absence of which the Chair had requested a written response from the Director-General).

The Chair highlighted that the purpose of the Committee was to exercise oversight and that no ministerial interference would be tolerated - since there was some indication in the letter of apology by the Director-General that the Minister had prevented the Director-General from attending the meeting. The Chair stressed that the Director-General must himself attend, although he may ask that the Deputy Director-General make the presentation and respond to questions.

The Chair asked the members to express their views on this issue but there was no response. The meeting was adjourned and the Committee will reconvene on Wednesday 11 October at 18h30.