Communications and Digital Technologies
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Communications and Digital Technologies Portfolio Committee
The Communications Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) as well as the following statutory entities:
Films and Publication Board (FPB)
Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA)
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
Broadband Infraco (BBI)
Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS)
South African Post Office (SAPO)
State Information Technology Agency (SITA)
Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)
Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF)
Committees conduct their business on behalf of the House and report back on matters referred to them.
Learn more about the work of this Committee: Legacy Reports
The role and functions of Committees in Parliament (provided by Parliament)
In accordance with the powers given to it by the Constitution, the National Assembly establishes a range of committees with assigned powers and functions. The committees are required to report regularly on their activities and to make recommendations to the House for debate and decision. A large part of the Assembly’s role in the law‑making process happens in committees and much of its oversight over the executive is also done through committees, particularly the portfolio committees.
There is a portfolio committee for each corresponding government department. The composition of the committees reflects, as far as is practicable, the numerical strengths of the parties represented in the Assembly. That committee will deliberate on bills covering that department’s area of jurisdiction and scrutinise and report on its annual budget and strategic plan. As the people’s representatives, members of the committees determine whether government departments are delivering on what they promised and whether they are spending the public money they receive in a responsible manner. As part of their oversight work, committees may also do site visits where they find out directly from the people at ground level whether the government is delivering on its promises.
If a committee reports on a matter and makes certain recommendations, that report will be debated in a full sitting or plenary to give other members of the House an opportunity to engage with the content of the report. Once the report has been debated, the House decides whether to adopt the committee’s recommendations. The House may also decide only to note the report or it may refer the report back to the committee with an instruction to do further work
Broadly speaking, the mandates of Committees are to consider and process legislation referred to it; exercise oversight over the Department and entities reporting to it; consider international agreements referred to it; consider the budget vote of the Department and its entities; facilitate public participation in its processes; and to consider all other matters referred to it in terms of legislation and the Rules of Parliament
Working in Committees allows Parliament to:
-Increase the amount of work that can be done
-Ensure that issues can be debated in more detail than in plenary sessions
-Increase the level of participation of Members of Parliament (MPs) in discussions
-Enable MPs to develop expertise and in-depth knowledge of the specific Committee's area of work
-Provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs, something which is not possible in a plenary sitting of Parliament
-Provide an environment for Parliament to hear evidence and collect information related to the work of a specific Committee
Powers
Rule 167 of the National Assembly Rules (9th Edition) say that for the purposes of performing its functions committee may, subject to the Constitution, legislation, the other provisions of these rules and resolutions of the Assembly –
-Summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents
-Receive petitions, representations or submissions from interested persons or institutions
-Permit oral evidence on petitions, representations, submissions and any other matter before the committee
-Conduct public hearings
-Consult any Assembly or Council committee or subcommittee, or any joint committee or subcommittee
-Determine its own working arrangements
-Meet at a venue determined by it, which may be a venue beyond the seat of Parliament
-Meet on any and at any time, including –
- On a day which is not a working day
- On a day on which the Assembly is not sitting
- At a time when the Assembly is not sitting, or
- During a recess
-Exercise any other powers assigned to it by the Constitution, legislation, the other provisions of these rules or resolutions of the Assembly
Committee Membership
Committee membership is distributed among the parties roughly in proportion to the seats they get in Parliament, so if a party wins 20% of the seats, its MPs will occupy about 20% of committee positions.
The NA Rules Committee agreed that all Committees will be comprised of 11 Members: ANC – 6; DA – 2; EFF – 1; other parties – 2.
Where it is practicably possible, each party is entitled to at least one representative in a Committee.
Read More: A note to the Sixth Parliament: Committee Membership
Read More: A Note to the Sixth Parliament: The critical role of Committee Chairperson
Committees in Practice
With the agreement of members, the Committee staff sets the dates and times of committee meetings. The frequency of committee meetings is determined by a committee’s work programme but it is normal for a committee to meet weekly. From time to time, committees can meet more than once a week if they work programme so demands.
Section 59(1)(b) of the Constitution requires that the National Assembly and it’s committees conduct their business in an open manner and hold their sittings in public. Section 59(2) states that the National Assembly may not exclude the public or the media unless it is ‘reasonable and justifiable to do so in an open and democratic society’. Rule 184(2) of the Rules of the National Assembly further require that any decision to exclude the public from a committee meeting or part thereof must be taken ‘after due consideration’ by that committee
Who attends Committee Meetings?:
MPs (those assigned to the committee and if they so wish, any other MP)
Committee Staff: Committee Secretary, Committee Assistant, Researcher, Content Advisor
Departments, entities, organizations, individuals and experts who are invited by the Committee to speak and be questioned
Parliamentary Legal Advisor (from time to time)
Media
General Public
THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT
Portfolio Committees
The National Assembly (NA) appoints from among its members a number of Portfolio Committees to shadow the work of the various national government departments.
Select Committees
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) appoints from its permanent members a number of Select Committees to shadow the work of the various national government departments and to deal with Bills.
Because only 54 of the 90 NCOP Members are permanent delegates compared to the 400 of the NA, the Select Committees oversee the work of more than one national government department.
Public Accounts Committees
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Public Accounts acts as Parliament's watchdog over the way taxpayers' money is spent by the Executive. Every year the Auditor-General tables reports on the accounts and financial management of the various government departments and State institutions.
Heads of government departments and institutions are regularly called by this committee to report and account for expenditure. The Committee can recommend that the National Assembly takes corrective actions if necessary.
Internal Committees
The National Assembly has a number of internal committees that deal with matters affecting the running of Parliament. The Committees normally consist of senior Members of Parliament. The Rules Committee and its sub-committees deal with House rules. There are structures to deal with support for Members, internal arrangements, disciplinary matters and powers and privileges of members. Other internal Committees are the Programme Committee that plans the work of the Assembly, the Disciplinary Committee, and the Committee of Chairpersons.
The National Council of Provinces also has its own domestic Committees. The Rules Committee and its subcommittees deal with the NCOP rules. There are structures to deal with support for Members, internal arrangements, disciplinary matters and powers and privileges of members. The Programme Committee plans the work of the NCOP and the Committee of Chairpersons make recommendations about the functioning of Committees and other NCOP forums.
Ad hoc Committees
Parliament or one of its Houses may appoint an ad hoc (temporary) Committee when a special task must be done. When the task is complete, the Committee is dissolved.
Joint Committees
The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces together appoint a number of joint committees.
There are six Joint Committees:
- Constitutional Review Committee
- Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence
- Joint Standing Committee on Defence
- Committee on Multi-Party Women’s Caucus
- Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament
- Joint Standing Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests
The committees play a very important role in the process of building democracy and involving the public in the processes and activities of Parliament.
No results.
NW2990 by Dr L A Schreiber - Whether she and/or her department submitted a... | |
NW2380 by Ms. Z Majozi - (1) With reference to the Broadcasting Digital... | |
NW3047 by Mr S Tambo - What strategies are in place to ensure that... | |
NW2963 by Ms T Bodlani - (1) (a) What is the rationale for the pending... | |
NW2903 by Mr Z Majozi - With women reportedly making up 31% of... | |
NW3497 by Ms D Kohler - Whether she will furnish Ms D Kohler with (a)... | |
NW3401 by Mr A M Shaik Emam - What are the reasons that the Government... | |
NW2487 by Mr W W Wessels - (1) (a) What (i) total number of employees of... | |
NW2386 by Ms Bodlani - In view of the fact that Universal Services... | |
NW1898 by Mr C Brink - Whether she has been informed that mailboxes... | |
NW1896 by Ms T Bodlani - What (a) are the reasons for the lack of mail... | |
NW1075 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount has (a) Independent Communications... | |
NW1515 by Ms Z Majozi - Following the devastating floods in... | |
NW3177 by Ms D Kohler - What are the reasons that the SA Broadcasting... | |
NW3176 by Ms D Kohler - Whether any member of the Board of the SA... | |
NW3175 by Ms D Kohler - (1) What are the (a) full details of the... | |
NW3153 by Ms T Bodlani - What are the details of the amounts that are... | |
NW2981 by Ms D Kohler - What (a) amount was spent on legal fees in... | |
NW2962 by Ms T Bodlani - Whether, noting that the SA Post Office is... | |
NW2385 by Ms Bodlani - Who are the directors of a certain company... | |
NW909 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether, in light of the assertion by the... | |
NW1092 by Ms Z Majozi - Noting her media statement on 18 March 2022... | |
NW1255 by Ms Z Majozi - In light of the fanfare that has been made by... | |
NW1324 by Mrs M B Hicklin - Whether she has found that the closure of the... | |
NW1417 by Ms Z Majozi - With reference to the final switch-off date... | |
NW1573 by M Mbabama - Whether (a) her department and/or (b) entities... | |
NW1897 by Ms T Bodlani - What (a) are the reasons for the lack of mail... | |
NW2364 by Mr M S Malatsi - (1)(a) Who was appointed to design and develop... | |
NW984 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount has (a) her department, (b) the SA... | |
NW871 by Ms N K Sharif - What (a) is the total number of incidents of... | |
NW843 by Mr M Bagraim - What total amount in Rand has been spent on... | |
NW985 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount does (a) her department, (b) the... | |
NW968 by Ms B M van Minnen - Whether she will furnish Ms B M van Minnen... | |
NW986 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount did (a) her department, (b) the SA... | |
NW815 by Mr MS Malatsi - What (a) number of SA Post Office branches... | |
NW817 by Mr MS Malatsi - What (a) is the total number of SA Post Office... | |
NW729 by Mr W W Wessels - (1) What are the total outstanding amounts... | |
NW1201 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount did (a) the Independent... | |
NW1077 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount does (a) Universal Service and... | |
NW816 by Mr MS Malatsi - What (a) is the total number of SA Post Office... | |
NW1076 by Mr M S Malatsi - What amount does (a) State Information... | |
NW431 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether, with reference to her statement... | |
NW60 by Mr T W Mhlongo - Whether she has found that there are enough... | |
NW180 by Mr H C C Krüger - (a)What number of supplier invoices currently... | |
NW131 by Ms S J Graham - (a) Which branches of the SA Post Office... | |
NW9 by Mr W W Wessels - (1) What is the current outstanding amount... | |
NW152 by Mr M Bagraim - Whether she and/or her department ever... | |
NW1821 by Z Majozi - What (a) steps has she taken to resolve the... | |
NW2219 by Ms T Bodlani - What (a) are the details of the post offices... | |
NW2263 by Ms Z Majozi - (1)In light of the fact that the dispute... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
South African Postbank Limited Amendment Bill | 17 May 2022 | B12-2022 | Under consideration by the National Assembly. |
Broadcasting Amendment Bill | 04 Dec 2015 | B39-2015 | Withdrawn |
Films and Publications Amendment Bill | 23 Nov 2015 | B37-2015 | Act commenced |
South African Postbank Limited Amendment Bill | 31 Jul 2013 | B25-2013 | Act commenced |
South African Post Office SOC LTD Amendment Bill | 31 Jul 2013 | B24-2013 | Act commenced |
Electronic Communications Amendment Bill | 11 Jul 2013 | B17-2013 | Act commenced |
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Amendment Bill | 11 Jul 2013 | B18-2013 | Act commenced |
2010 Sectional Titles Amendment Bill | 28 Jun 2010 | B14-2010 | Act commenced |
South African Post Office Bill | 09 Feb 2010 | B2-2010 | Act commenced |
South African Postbank Bill | 06 Nov 2009 | B14-2009 | Act commenced |
Protection of Personal Information Bill | 25 Aug 2009 | B9-2009 | Act partially commenced |
Broadcasting Amendment Bill | 15 Aug 2008 | B72-2008 | Act commenced |
Electronic Communications Amendment Bill | 01 Oct 2007 | B38-2007 | Act commenced |
Postal Services Amendment Bill | 07 Sep 2006 | B22-2006 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 73 out of 125 for NAMembership
-
Basopu, Mr MANC
-
Gumbu, Mr TTANC
-
Kubheka, Ms NJANC
-
Kwankwa, Mr NLUDM
-
Madisha, Mr WMCOPE
-
Majozi, Ms ZIFP
-
Molala, Mr LEANC
-
Mthembu, Ms AHANC
-
Ndlozi, Dr MQEFF
-
Pambo, Mr VEFF
-
Xego, Ms STANC
Contact
Secretaries of Committee:
Thembinkosi Ngoma
Tel: 021 403 3733
Cell: 083 709 8407
Email: tngoma@parliament.gov.za
Hajiera Salie
Tel: 021 403 8264
Cell: 061 472 9191
Email: hsalie@parliament.gov.za
Secretary To Chairperson:
Wandile Mguga
Tel: 021 403 2404
Cell: 083 709 8497
Email: wmguga@parliament.gov.za