Committee Programme & Strategic Planning Workshop: discussion

Meeting report

Opening Remarks by Chairperson
The Chairperson welcomed Members and thanked them for attending the first meeting of the year. He explained that the meeting had been convened to look at issues that would enable the Committee to run smoothly this year.

Strategic Planning Workshop
The Chairperson requested Members to list the critical matters that required examination at the Committee’s scheduled workshop.

Mr L Van Rooyen (ANC) (Free State) reminded the Committee that 2008 was the deadline for water supply. Consequently, he strongly advised the Committee to list this as a priority in terms of oversight. Furthermore, he noted that the Committee would have to process several technical and difficult Bills in the current year. As a result, he advised that the relevant departments brief the Committee as early as possible on the objectives and progress of the different pieces of legislation. He proposed that the workshop be held outside Parliament so that the Committee could conduct oversight simultaneously. The Kgalagadi National Park was offered as a possible venue because of its national importance and apparent neglect. Lastly, he appealed to the Committee not to work in isolation, and urged that the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration be part of the workshop.

Ms H Matlanyane (ANC) (Limpopo) raised sanitation as an important issue and suggested that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry be summoned to appear before the Committee to explain its plan to eradicate the bucket and pit systems. She added that the Committee should use the workshop to finalise how the different pieces of legislation would be prioritised and processed by the Committee. She concluded that the Committee’s oversight work was insufficient and that greater follow ups were needed.

The Chairperson acknowledged the Members inputs, and proposed that the important or critical issues be prioritized. The date and venue for the workshop was settled upon.

Committee First Term Programme
The Chairperson invited Members to comment on the Committee’s proposed programme for the first term.

Members proposed several minor additions and rearrangements to the programme. Adoption would take place at a later date.

The meeting was adjourned.