Social Development
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Social Development Portfolio Committee
The Social Development Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Social Development (DSD) as well as the following statutory entities:
Central Drug Authority (CDA)
National Development Agency (NDA)
South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
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.
NW199 by Mrs G Opperman - What (a) total number of SA Social Security... | |
NW109 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (1)With reference to the three types of... | |
NW31 by Ms L H Arries - In light of the long queues at post offices... | |
NW171 by Mrs G Opperman - (a) What is the total number of grant... | |
NW149 by Ms B S Masango - What collaborative work is being done by her... | |
NW2326 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (a) Which municipalities currently have active... | |
NW2327 by Ms A L A Abrahams - What statistics does her department have on... | |
NW671 by Ms B S Masango - Whether she, her department and/or any entity... | |
NW2997 by Ms A L A Abrahams - Of the 99 047 food parcels distributed by her... | |
NW2585 by Ms L L van der Merwe - (1)With reference to the Non-Profit... | |
NW2262 by Ms L L van der Merwe - What (a) has her department done since the... | |
NW1855 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - What are the reasons that early childhood... | |
NW1755 by Ms B S Masango - (1)Whether she is aware of the... | |
NW2325 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (1)(a) In which provinces did her department... | |
NW2264 by Ms L H Arries - (1)What are the challenges faced by Early... | |
NW3092 by Mr A N Sarupen - (1)Whether, with reference to the subsidy that... | |
NW3070 by Ms L H Arries - In light of recent reports that there are more... | |
NW3069 by Ms L H Arries - Whether her department has conducted any... | |
NW3040 by Ms B S Masango - (1)What is the total number of (a) SA Post... | |
NW2955 by Ms B S Masango - What (a) has been the ratio of grant... | |
NW2842 by Ms N N Chirwa - What are the reasons that her department has... | |
NW2726 by Ms A L A Abrahams - Whether, with reference to the court judgement... | |
NW2558 by Ms A L A Abrahams - Whether her department will still be employing... | |
NW2392 by Ms L H Arries - (a) What total number of foster care... | |
NW2385 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - (1)Whether her department has shut down the... | |
NW2373 by Ms H Ismail - With reference to her reply to question 1350... | |
NW2180 by Ms A L A Abrahams - Whether she and the Deputy Minister has each... | |
NW2179 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (1)Whether, with reference to her department’s... | |
NW2977 by Mr M G E Hendricks - Whether she can provide reasons as to why the... | |
NW3088 by Mr D J Stubbe - What total number of persons who fall under... | |
NW2844 by Ms L H Arries - What (a) total amount did the Government spend... | |
NW2786 by Ms A L A Abrahams - In view of the fact that one of the conditions... | |
NW1981 by Ms A L A Abrahams - With reference to Civil Society Organisations... | |
NW2274 by Mrs D B Ngwenya - What total number of (a) police stations and... | |
NW2265 by Ms L H Arries - What (a) criteria does her department use to... | |
NW2433 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (1)With reference to her reply to question... | |
NW2434 by Ms A L A Abrahams - Whether, in light of the current disability... | |
NW2435 by Ms A L A Abrahams - What would be the budgetary and expenditure... | |
NW2559 by Ms A L A Abrahams - With regard to the findings of the National... | |
NW2966 by Mr A N Sarupen - (1)With regard to the subsidy from her... | |
NW2879 by Ms L H Arries - What steps has her department taken to ensure... | |
NW578 by Mr K Ceza - What measures did her department undertake to... | |
NW2755 by Ms N Tafeni - Whether she has been informed that the... | |
NW2794 by Ms B S Masango - (1)What (a) are the conditions and (b) is the... | |
NW2845 by Ms L H Arries - Whether she has investigated allegations that... | |
NW2181 by Ms A L A Abrahams - (a) What are the full names of all staff... | |
NW2346 by Mr M J Cuthbert - (1)Whether she will furnish Mr M J Cuthbert... | |
NW2379 by Mrs D B Ngwenya - What are the time frames for the conversion of... | |
NW2407 by Ms L L van der Merwe - (1)Whether, with reference to the recent... | |
NW2408 by Ms L L van der Merwe - With reference to a statement by the National... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Children's Amendment Bill | 26 Aug 2020 | B18-2020 | Under consideration by the National Assembly. |
Social Assistance Amendment Bill | 13 Apr 2018 | B8-2018 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Children's Amendment Bill | 20 May 2015 | B13-2015 | Act commenced |
Children's Second Amendment Bill | 20 May 2015 | B14-2015 | Act commenced |
Children’s Amendment Bill - Mr M Waters (DA) | 18 Feb 2015 | PMB2-2015 | Rejected |
Children’s Amendment Bill – Mr M Waters (DA) | 12 Mar 2013 | PMB1-2013 | Withdrawn |
Social Assistance Amendment Bill | 02 Mar 2010 | B5-2010 | Act commenced |
Social Assistance Amendment Bill | 23 Apr 2008 | B17-2008 | Act commenced |
Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill | 14 Mar 2008 | B12-2008 | Act commenced |
Children’s Amendment Bill | 23 May 2006 | B19-2006 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 25 out of 90 for NAMembership
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Arries, Ms LHEFF
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Bilankulu, Ms NKANC
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Hlongo, Ms ASANC
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Manganye, Ms JANC
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Motaung, Ms AANC
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Mvana, Ms NQANC
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Ngwenya, Ms DBEFF
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Stock, Mr DANC
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Sukers, Ms MEACDP
Contact
Secretary of Committee:
Lindiwe Ntsabo
Tel: 021 403 8230
Cell: 083 709 8524
Email: lntsabo@parliament.gov.za
Secretary To Chairperson:
Thandeka Marubelele
Tel: 021 403 3225
Email: tmarubelele@parliament.gov.za
Cell: 061 438 5850