Question NW1051 to the Minister of Small Business Development
26 April 2022 - NW1051
Mathulelwa, Ms B to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
What are the reasons for her failure to attend and account at meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development in terms of her constitutional responsibility as set out in section 92(2) of the Constitution, 1996?
Reply:
The Minister’s inability to attend some meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development is primarily because the scheduled time for this Portfolio Committee is on Wednesdays at 09:30, which clashes with the Cabinet Committee Meetings or Cabinet Meetings which commence on Wednesdays at 08:30 until later in the day. HE President Ramaphosa, has directed that Ministers must prioritise Cabinet work, while at the same time impressed upon the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, HE Deputy President Mabuza to engage Parliament to endeavour to strike a balance between work of Parliament and Cabinet in so far as it relates to Ministers. It has also been resolved that Deputy Ministers need to attend the Portfolio Committee meetings where Ministers are expected to be in Cabinet.
The Minister will endeavour to avail herself to balance her accountability between Cabinet and Parliament as practical as possible.
STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT