Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Portfolio Committee
The Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) as well as the following statutory entities:
Marine Living Resources Fund
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
South African Weather Service (SAWS)
The Committee is mandated to:
- consider, amend and/or initiate legislation that is specific to, or impacts on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
- consider and review the strategic plans and budgets of the Department and its entities.
- monitor and oversee the activities, financial and non-financial performance of the Ministry and its entities.
- monitor and oversee the implementation of the Department’s policies and legislation
- consider sector-related international treaties and agreements; and
- provide a platform for the public to participate and present views on specific topics and/or legislation in relation to forestry, fisheries and the environment.
Learn more about the work of this Committee: Legacy Reports
The role and functions of Committees in 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.
There is a portfolio committee for each corresponding government department. A committee deliberates on bills covering the department’s area of jurisdiction and scrutinises 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.
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
NA Committee are comprised of 11 Members. The composition is as follows: ANC (5); DA (3); MK (2); EFF (1) & other parties (4). The four largest parties were given permanent positions, and the 14 other parties are grouped together to share the remaining slots.
Read more: Committees in the Seventh Parliament: Critical Forums for Oversight
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
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 its 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 several joint committees. There are currently six Joint Committees:
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.
NW706 by Mr J N de Villiers - Whether she will furnish Mr J N de Villiers... | |
NW559 by Ms A M M Weber - In light of 3 tons of fish killed in February... | |
NW560 by Ms A M M Weber - (1) Whether, with regard to fears of... | |
NW596 by Mr J N de Villiers - With reference to her reply to question 85 on... | |
NW583 by Mr D W Bryant - 1) With reference to the widespread concern... | |
NW582 by Mr D W Bryant - (1) Whether, with reference to her recent... | |
NW581 by Mr D W Bryant - a) Whether, with reference to reports from the... | |
NW335 by Mr J N de Villiers - What are the full details of all (a)... | |
NW204 by Mr M Manyi - (a) Which province in the Republic have... | |
NW176 by Ms H S Winkler - Whether it is the official position of (a) her... | |
NW203 by Mr M Manyi - Whether cloud seeding technology has been... | |
NW11 by Mr N Singh - Whether her department has taken any immediate... | |
NW80 by Ms H S Winkler - Whether, with reference to her reply to... | |
NW79 by Ms H S Winkler - (a) On what date did the Skukuza Game Meat... | |
NW12 by Mr N Singh - Whether her department is responsible for the... | |
NW4120 by Ms T Breedt - (1) Whether, with reference to the proposed... | |
NW4214 by Ms H S Winkler - Whether her department will furnish Ms H S... | |
NW4121 by Ms T Breedt - (1) With reference to vehicles speeding and... | |
NW4216 by Ms H S Winkler - Whether her depadment will furnish Ms H S... | |
NW4215 by Ms H S Winkler - Whether her department will furnish Ms H S... | |
NW4119 by Ms T Breedt - (1) Whether her department has been informed... | |
NW3992 by Ms A M M Weber - (1) In view of the fact that lions infected... | |
NW4093 by Mr T Loate - 1) Whether she has found that the Republic's... | |
NW4086 by Ms H S Winkler - What are the details of (a) minimum data... | |
NW4085 by Ms H S Winkler - 1. With reference to her reply to question... | |
NW4084 by Ms H S Winkler - With regard to access to replies to... | |
NW4042 by Mr N Singh - (1) What are the full relevant details of the... | |
NW4011 by MS T Breedt - (1) With reference to the Abalone Scientific... | |
NW4010 by MS T Breedt - (1) What are the reasons that abalone quotas... | |
NW4009 by Ms T Breedt - (1) Whether her department has been informed... | |
NW4002 by Mr M N Paulsen - What are the details why the target of 75% of... | |
NW4001 by Mr M N Paulsen - (a) Why the 30% procurement target for rural... | |
NW3993 by Ms A M M Weber - Whether, with reference to the revised... | |
NW3987 by Mr N Singh - What are the relevant details pertaining to... | |
NW3980 by Ms T V B Mchunu - How will the agreement of the Transition... | |
NW3974 by Mr M G E Hendricks - Whether, considering that the Constitutional... | |
NW3643 by Mr N G Myburgh - What progress has been in the development... | |
NW3642 by Mr N G Myburgh - (a) Who is responsible for the implementation... | |
NW3641 by Mr N G Myburgh - What are the details of the Awareness... | |
NW3649 by Ms H S Winkler - What is the latest information on the criminal... | |
NW3223 by Ms H S Winkler - (1) With reference to the Industry Wildlife... | |
NW3204 by Ms H S Winkler - (1) With reference to the Industry Wildlife... | |
NW3203 by Mr D W Bryant - Whether any (a) charges and (b) fines were... | |
NW3202 by Mr D W Bryant - What (a) total amount was spent on litigation... | |
NW3150 by Ms T Breedt - Whether, with reference to her reply to... | |
NW3148 by Mr S N Swart - (1) Whether a valid Threatened or Protected... | |
NW3149 by Ms T Breedt - On what date(s) (a) were the last studies... | |
NW3253 by Mr S N Swart - What total number of elephant trophies from... | |
NW3225 by Ms H S Winkler - (1) With regard to the Ministerial Task Team... | |
NW3224 by Ms H S Winkler - (1) Whether, with regard to the high levels of... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Climate Change Bill | 18 Feb 2022 | B9-2022 | The bill has been signed into law. |
National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill | 13 Dec 2021 | B24-2021 | The bill has been signed into law. |
National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill | 24 May 2017 | B14-2017 | Act partially commenced |
Marine Spatial Planning Bill | 13 Apr 2017 | B9-2017 | Act commenced |
National Forests Amendment Bill | 21 Jul 2016 | B11-2016 | The bill has been signed into law. |
National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill | 22 Apr 2013 | B8-2013 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 25 out of 35 for NAMembership
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James, Ms DEAction SA
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Jonas,Mr GFPA
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Khumalo, Ms JQANC
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Makasi, Ms NANC
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Managa, Dr LEFF
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Nalumango, Ms RSANC
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Peach, Mr WDDA
Contact
Secretary of Committee:
Tyhileka Madubela
Tel: 021 403 3713
Cell: 083 709 8401
Email: [email protected]