Water and Sanitation
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Water and Sanitation Portfolio Committee
The Water and Sanitation Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as well as the following statutory entities:
Consolidated water boards
Trans‐Caledon Tunnel Authority
Water Trading Entity
Breede‐Gouritz Catchment Management Agency
Inkomati‐Usuthu Catchment Management Agency
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.
NW1408 by Mrs C C S Motsepe - What are the reasons for the delays by his... | |
NW1508 by Mr M G E Hendricks - (1)Whether, given that the water... | |
NW1583 by Mr N E Hinana - Whether (a) his department and/or (b) entities... | |
NW1649 by Mr C Brink - Whether he has found that most of the waste... | |
NW1675 by Mr L J Basson - (1)What is the nature of the allegations... | |
NW1407 by Mrs C C S Motsepe - How will the wastewater challenge be funded... | |
NW1469 by Mr W Horn - What total number of (a)(i) water engineers... | |
NW1470 by Mr W Horn - (a)(i) On what date was a full inspection in... | |
NW1284 by Ms A M M Weber - (1)Whether, given the shocking destruction of... | |
NW1302 by Mr C Brink - Whether she has been advised that many... | |
NW1301 by Mr C Brink - Whether he has been advised that about 100... | |
NW1285 by Ms A M M Weber - (1)Given the shocking destruction of the river... | |
NW1251 by Ms S A Buthelezi - What action has his department taken to ensure... | |
NW1134 by Mr L J Basson - What are the (a) reasons that the situation of... | |
NW998 by Mr L J Basson (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation - Whether the new technology that uses less... | |
NW756 by Ms R N Komane - Which measures has his department put in place... | |
NW997 by Mr L J Basson - (1) What (a) is the current progress of the... | |
NW1049 by Ms R N Komane - Whether his department has any programme... | |
NW999 by Mr L J Basson - (1) (a) What steps is his department taking to... | |
NW1046 by Ms N Tafeni - In light of the fact that the (a) Buffalo City... | |
NW1116 by Mr L J Basson - (1)Whether his department has any operational... | |
NW751 by Mr T M Langa - By what date will clean running water be... | |
NW1131 by Mr L J Basson - (1)Whether he intends to transfer the bulk... | |
NW619 by Mrs M R Mohlala - What is the reason that there is no water for... | |
NW542 by Mr G R Krumbock - What is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) year of... | |
NW177 by Mr J W W Julius - Whether he and/or his department ever received... | |
NW444 by Ms S A Buthelezi - What are the (a) current unfinished water and... | |
NW896 by Mr E J Marais - What (a) is the total number of incidents of... | |
NW812 by Mr L J Basson - (1) (a) What steps will his department take to... | |
NW811 by Mr L J Basson - (1)(a) By what date will the work on the 4km... | |
NW695 by Mr L J Basson - What (a) is the new timeline for completing... | |
NW585 by Ms A M Siwisa - With reference to the project that was started... | |
NW205 by Mr E J Marais - (a) What number of supplier invoices currently... | |
NW757 by Mr K Ceza - What interventions has his department made to... | |
NW618 by Mrs M R Mohlala - With reference to the financial component of... | |
NW620 by Mrs M R Mohlala - What is the reason that residents in... | |
NW693 by Mr L J Basson - What is the (a) total amount that her... | |
NW694 by Mr L J Basson - (1) What steps does the Rand Water intend to... | |
NW758 by Mr P G Moteka - (a) What total amount has been allocated for... | |
NW809 by Mr L J Basson - (1) In light of the Nooitgedacht Low Level... | |
NW868 by Mr N E Hinana - What total amount in Rand has been spent on... | |
NW297 by Mrs M R Mohlala - What steps has his department taken to resolve... | |
NW290 by Ms A M Siwisa - What interventions has his department taken to... | |
NW284 by Mrs M R Mohlala - What (a)(i) is the total accumulated cost of... | |
NW19 by Ms S A Buthelezi - (1)In light of the water shortages experienced... | |
NW141 by Mr W Horn - On what date (a) will construction of the... | |
NW74 by Mr A C Roos - (1)With regard to the bulk water supply by... | |
NW2863 by Mrs M R Mohlala - Which interventions and/or measures have been... | |
NW2714 by Mr M S F de Freitas - 1. With reference to the various water cuts... | |
NW2862 by Mrs M R Mohlala - With regard to the Giyani water project which... |
Attendance
Ranked 21 out of 125 for NAMembership
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Buthelezi, Ms SAIFP
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Hendricks, Mr MGEAl Jama-ah
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Mohlala, Ms MREFF
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Sihlwayi, Ms NNANC
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Tafeni, Ms NEFF
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Tseke, Ms GKANC
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Tseki, Mr MAANC
Contact
Secretaries of Committee:
Nosipho Bavuma
Cell: 060 550 9892
Email: nbavuma@parliament.gov.za
Secretary To Chairperson:
Khayalethu Vellem
Email: kvellem@parliament.gov.za