Question NW4 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
29 February 2024 - NW4
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 3435 on 22 November 2023, she will furnish Ms T Breedt with an exact date and/or updated time frame for the tabling of the new Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament; if not, why not; if so, who is responsible for the drafting of the new Bill; (2) whether, since her reply to the specified question on the specified date, a tender has been issued for the drafting of the new Bill; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she will furnish Ms T Breedt with a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the University of Pretoria for the drafting of the new Animal Welfare Bill; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) (a) by what date will the Animal Welfare colloquium take place, as referred to in the minutes of the Animal Welfare Working Group, dated 10 July 2023, and previously agreed to by her department and (b) under whose auspices will the colloquium be convened; (5) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
(1) No. It is not possible to determine the exact time frames due to the various processes that have to be undertaken prior to the introduction of a Bill to Parliament. As indicated in the reply to question 3435 on 22 November 2023, the first draft is expected to be completed by March 2024 and the Bill will follow the normal legislation-making process including processing through the relevant Directors-General Cluster System; conducting a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment; constitutional certification by the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor and obtaining Cabinet’s approval to gazette for public comments. Once the comments have been addressed, Cabinet’s approval will be sought for tabling the Bill to Parliament.
(2) No. DALRRD will not proceed with tenders for the drafting of the Animal Welfare Bill, the Bill is being drafted within the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). The Department has previously responded that it added additional internal capacity in the form of three state veterinarians who are handling the animal welfare portfolio and therefore there is no need for the advertisement of a tender for the drafting of the Bill.
(3) No, because no Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the University of Pretoria for the drafting of the new Animal Welfare Bill.
(4)(a) No date has been confirmed for the Animal Welfare colloquium; this will form part of the consultation process as indicated in response to part (1) above.
(b) DALRRD.
(5) No.