Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill: Final Mandates & Adoption

Meeting report

Opening remarks by Chairperson
The Chair commenced proceedings by welcoming everybody in attendance and reciting the apologies of absent Members. Thereafter, she introduced Ms K Kgaraebe, as a new delegate, who would assume the position previously occupied by the deceased Mr J Thlagale. Lastly, she mentioned that all the provinces had sent their mandates, except for the Eastern Cape.

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill
Provincial representatives read out the final mandates on behalf of their provinces.
 
Free State
Mr M Sulliman (ANC, Northern Cape) stated on behalf of the Free State that the authority was conferred to the Free State delegate to vote for the adoption of the Bill.

Gauteng
Ms N Madlala (ANC, Gauteng) confirmed that she had been directed by her province to vote in favour of the Bill.

Kwazulu-Natal
Ms J Vilakazi (IFP, Kwazulu-Natal) disclosed that the Provincial Standing Committee agreed to mandate the Kwazulu-Natal delegation to support the Bill. The delegation was further mandated to consider any additional amendments, provided that these did not alter the essential elements of the Bill, and that consensus was given by the delegate.

Limpopo
Ms H Lamoela (DA, Western Cape) stated on behalf of the Limpopo Legislature that it had conferred a final mandate to the provincial delegate to vote in favour of the Bill.

Mpumalanga
Mr B Tolo (ANC, Mpumalanga) stated that the Mpumalanga Legislature supported the Bill and had conferred a mandate for the adoption of the Bill.

Northern Cape
Mr Sulliman stated that the Northern Cape Legislature conferred authority to the permanent delegate to vote in support of the Bill

North West
Ms K Kgaraebe (UCDP, North West) stated that the North West Legislature conferred authority to the permanent delegate of the NCOP to vote in support of the Bill

Western Cape
Ms Lamoela stated that the Provincial Standing Committee on Social Development had conferred on the Western Cape’s delegate the authority to support the Bill without amendment.

Discussion
Mr Sulliman observed that the North West Legislature had failed to properly capture the Bill. The document referred to B21-2007 as opposed to B21B-2007. He argued that the Committee could only accept such a mandate once the Legislature corroborated its true intention to adopt B21B-2007 and not the stated B21-2007.

The Chairperson noted this concern and stated that the Committee should then consider the mandates of seven provinces. She added that verification would be sought from the North West Legislature to establish whether the oversight was as a result of a typing error.

The Chairperson obtained consensus that mandates from seven provinces, which constituted a quorum, be accepted. She repeated that a “follow up will be done” with the North West Legislature to correct the typing error.

Adoption
The Committee examined the Bill clause-by-clause and resolved to adopt Clauses 1, 7 and 9 with amendments. The remaining clauses were approved without amendments.

The meeting was adjourned.