Transport
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Transport Portfolio Committee
The Transport Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Transport (DOT) as well as the following statutory entities:
Airports Company SA (ACSA)
Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)
Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA)
Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA)
Railway Safety Regulator of SA (RSR)
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)
Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)
Road Accident Fund (RAF)
SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
Maritime Safety Authority SA (SAMSA)
SA National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL)
The Committee is mandated to:
- consider, amend and/or initiate legislation that is specific to, or impacts on the transport sector.
- 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 the transport sector.
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.
NW1672 by Mr M B Blose - What (a) are the full details of any job... | |
NW1608 by Mr M J Cuthbert - 1) What work (a) has her department already... | |
NW1663 by Mr C H H Hunsinger - (1)What total amounts that were received... | |
NW1437 by Ms M P Kobe - (1) Whether the Passenger Rail Agency of South... | |
NW1449 by Mr A D Beesley - (1) What is the extent of her powers and... | |
NW1550 by Mr F Essack - Having paid approximately RI 1 million on... | |
NW1540 by Mr C H H Hunsinger - (1) What is the current status of each board... | |
NW1303 by Mr T L Montana - (1) What are the reasons that Transnet was... | |
RNW1285 by Ms M P Kobe - (1) What (a) steps will be taken to repair the... | |
NW1299 by Mr S M Gana - With regard to traffic fines, (a) what is the... | |
RNW1306 by Mr M P Motubatse - Given that 70% of the Republic's freight is... | |
RNW1314 by Mr C H H Hunsinger - (1) What (a) cities are receiving funding for... | |
RNW1317 by Mr C N Malematja - (1) What has been the level of increase in the... | |
RNW1286 by Ms M P Kobe - (1) Whether she intends to have a limited... | |
RNW1307 by Ms Z S Abader - What steps has she taken to ensure that the... | |
RNW1315 by Ms N S Nkopane - What specific progress in terms of the... | |
RNW1420 by Mr G Michalakis - Whether any request has been received from the... | |
RNW1389 by Mr C H H Hunsinger - 1. What is the status of the financial... | |
RNW1322 by Mr K P Sithole - (a) What specific measures is Transnet Freight... | |
RNW1335 by Dr C H H Hunsinger - What steps has she taken to address the... | |
RNW1334 by Dr C H H Hunsinger - Noting that Operation Phakisa was initiated... | |
RNW1359 by Mr K P Sithole - How (a) will the new technologies employed by... | |
RNW1328 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - In light of the fact that the entities... | |
RNW1324 by Ms N V Mente.Nkuna - Whether, with reference to the reply by the... | |
RNW1281 by Mr S M Gana - With road infrastructure in many parts of the... | |
NW1016 by Ms B Mathulelwa - What is the status of the construction of the... | |
NW1063 by Mr R W T Chance - Whether, following Transnet's 2021 memorandum... | |
NW976 by Ms N L Webster - What is the (a) total number of staff employed... | |
NW1025 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - (1) Given that more than half the land... | |
NW1080 by Mr F Essack - Since the Republic desperately needs to... | |
NW1034 by B N Luthuli - What (a) was the total funding allocated for... | |
NW324 by N/A - (1) Whether the SA Airways (SAA) is paying the... | |
NW827 by Mr P A van Staden - (1) What (a) is the total number of (i)... | |
NW915 by Mr M J Cuthbert - (1) What is the estimated operational date for... | |
NW838 by Ms O M C Maotwe - Given that during the protests in 2022 in... | |
NW884 by Mr M B Blose - (a) What (i) is the reason that a tender of... | |
RCW253 by Mr J S Majola - What are the (a) preventative and (b) sound... | |
NW661 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - What are the details of the progress regarding... | |
NW663 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - Whether her department has plans in place to... | |
NW662 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - What recent steps of intervention have been... | |
NW686 by Mr M B Blose - (1) Given the rise in the number of accidents... | |
NW560 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - What (a) total amount of money was spent by... | |
NW483 by Mr S G Mwali - 1. What specific steps is her department... | |
NW559 by Mrs N J Nolutshungu - In light of the report that most of rail... | |
NW474 by Ms. E FREEMAN - Whether, with reference to his commitment to... | |
NW267 by Dr C H H Hunsinger - Whether, with reference to the 175 cases... | |
CW81 by Ms T Breedt - (1) (a) What are the reasons that Braam... | |
NW268 by Ms L Schikerling - Whether, with reference to the 175 cases... | |
NW300 by Mr C H H Hunsinger - Given the recent spate of taxi violence and... | |
CW32 by Mr F J Badenhorst - Noting that more than one million people who... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Merchant Shipping Bill | 11 May 2023 | B12-2023 | Under consideration by the National Assembly. |
Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Bill | 10 Mar 2022 | B10-2022 | Under consideration by the National Council of Provinces. |
Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill | 31 Jan 2022 | B5-2022 | Approved by Parliament. Waiting to be signed into law. |
Railway Safety Bill | 19 Mar 2021 | B7-2021 | Approved by Parliament. Waiting to be signed into law. |
National Road Traffic Amendment Bill | 29 May 2020 | B7-2020 | Approved by Parliament. Waiting to be signed into law. |
Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill | 29 May 2020 | B8-2020 | Approved by Parliament. Waiting to be signed into law. |
Economic Regulation of Transport Bill | 31 Jan 2020 | B1-2020 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Civil Aviation Amendment Bill | 14 Nov 2018 | B44-2018 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company Amendment Bill | 05 Apr 2018 | B6-2018 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Airports Company Amendment Bill | 27 Mar 2018 | B5-2018 | The bill has been signed into law. |
South African National Roads Agency Limited and National Roads Amendment Bill - Mr M de Freitas (DA) | 18 Aug 2017 | B20-2017 | Lapsed |
Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill | 08 Jun 2017 | B17-2017 | Rejected |
Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill | 07 Feb 2017 | B3-2017 | Withdrawn |
National Land Transport Amendment Bill | 15 Apr 2016 | B7-2016 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill | 30 Nov 2015 | B38-2015 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill | 27 Mar 2015 | B12-2015 | Act commenced |
Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability Convention) Bill | 15 Jul 2013 | B20-2013 | Act commenced |
Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Bill | 15 Jul 2013 | B19-2013 | Act commenced |
Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill | 05 Oct 2012 | B30-2012 | Act commenced |
South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Amendment Bill | 13 Sep 2012 | B28-2012 | Act commenced |
Road Accident Fund (Transitional Provisions) Bill | 08 Jun 2012 | B22-2012 | Act commenced |
Merchant Shipping (Safe Containers Convention) Bill | 17 Sep 2010 | B31-2010 | Act commenced |
2010 Transport Laws Repeal Bill | 19 Jul 2010 | B19-2010 | Act commenced |
Civil Aviation Bill | 08 Sep 2008 | B73-2008 | Act commenced |
National Land Transport Bill | 18 Jun 2008 | B51-2008 | Act commenced |
Legal Succession to the South African Transport Services Amendment Bill | 13 Jun 2008 | B43-2008 | Act commenced |
National Road Traffic Amendment Bill | 12 Jun 2008 | B39-2008 | Act commenced |
National Railway Safety Regulator Amendment Bill | 04 Jun 2008 | B32-2008 | Act commenced |
Air Services Licensing Amendment Bill | 28 May 2008 | B25-2008 | Act commenced |
Cross-Border Road Transport Amendment Bill | 23 Nov 2007 | B51-2007 | Act commenced |
Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill | 27 Jul 2007 | B27-2007 | Act commenced |
Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment Bill | 15 Feb 2007 | B1-2007 | Act commenced |
Carriage by Air Amendment Bill | 15 Aug 2006 | B18-2006 | Act commenced |
National Land Transport Amendment Draft Bill | X-2013 |
Attendance
Ranked 28 out of 36 for NAMembership
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Gana, Mr MRISE Mzansi
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Kobe, Ms MPAction SA
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Maduna, Mr NANC
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Marawu, Ms TLATM
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Nkopane, Ms NSANC
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Tetyana, Mr YEFF
Contact
Secretary of Committee:
Valerie Carelse
Tel: 021 403 3272
Cell: 083 709 8445
Email: [email protected]
Chairperson’s Secretary
K Moseki
Cell: 061 438 6569
Email: [email protected]