Basic Education
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Basic Education Portfolio Committee
The Basic Education Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as well as the following statutory entities:
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.
NW1705 by Ms A M Siwisa - Whether she has approached the Department of... | |
NW1808 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - Whether she will review the closing of... | |
NW264 by Mr K Ceza - Whether invigilators have been paid their... | |
NW1823 by Ms L H Arries - What (a) total number of no-fee schools are... | |
NW1813 by Mrs L F Tito - By what date will her department provide... | |
NW1696 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - Noting how more than 600 learners did not... | |
NW1572 by Ms T M Mbabama - Whether (a) her department and/or (b) entities... | |
NW1662 by Mr B B Nodada - What (a) components of her department make up... | |
NW1402 by Mrs M R Mohlala - Noting the snail-pace progress in eradicating... | |
NW1764 by Mr B B Nodada - What (a) are the criteria for (i) the... | |
NW1042 by Ms A M Siwisa - (1) With regard to her reply to question 573... | |
NW1663 by Mr B B Nodada - With regard to the National Education... | |
NW1390 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - Whether she has the power to hold principals... | |
NW1403 by Ms N Tafeni - By what date will her department ensure that... | |
NW23 by Mr S L Ngcobo - (1) Whether, in light of alarming reports that... | |
NW1448 by Mr B B Nodada - What (a) is the total number of (i) physical... | |
NW1660 by Mr B B Nodada - What is the current learner to teacher ratio... | |
NW1313 by Mr B B Nodada - (a) What total number of technical schools are... | |
NW1401 by Mrs M R Mohlala - In light of the fact that Limpopo recorded the... | |
NW1312 by Mr B B Nodada - How did each province perform according to... | |
NW1152 by Mr B B Nodada - What (a) tracking and tracing processes,... | |
NW1541 by Ms A M Siwisa - In light of reported incidents of racism at... | |
NW1364 by Mrs N R Mashabela - With reference to the Linmeyer Montessori... | |
NW222 by Ms P Madokwe - Whether, with regard to the fact that a number... | |
NW1236 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - What steps will be taken by her department to... | |
NW783 by Mr B B Nodada - What number of (a) learners and (b) teachers... | |
NW1184 by Mrs L F Tito - (1) What are the reasons that her department... | |
NW1133 by Mr M S Mabika - Whether she has been informed of the... | |
NW773 by Mrs G Opperman - What total number of girls between the ages of... | |
NW901 by Mr S L Ngcobo - Whether, with reference to the Fourth... | |
NW833 by Mr B B Nodada - What (a) are the details of the Government’s... | |
NW1150 by Mrs D van der Walt - (1) What is the current (a) total number of... | |
NW921 by Mr B B Nodada - Whether, with reference to the internationally... | |
NW1164 by Mr S L Ngcobo - What amount remains unspent on the budget for... | |
NW645 by Mr B B Nodada - (1) What interventions are made for the (a)... | |
NW251 by Mrs L F Tito - In light of the fact that many schools in the... | |
NW870 by Ms N K Sharif - What (a) is the total number of incidents of... | |
NW761 by Dr S S Thembekwayo - How does the Quality Learning and Teaching... | |
NW837 by Mr B B Nodada - (1) What is the total number of teachers who... | |
NW745 by Mrs S M Mokgotho - By what date will the construction of the... | |
NW649 by Mr B B Nodada - What is the (a) current total cost of school... | |
NW760 by Mrs L F Tito - What (a) is the (i) current average... | |
NW774 by Mrs G Opperman - (1) What total number of learners are not in... | |
NW842 by Dr L A Schreiber - What total amount in Rand has been spent on... | |
NW796 by Mr B B Nodada - (1) (a) By what date will the systemic tests... | |
NW685 by Mrs D van der Walt - What is the total number of (a) single-medium... | |
NW644 by Mr B B Nodada - (1) What is the total number of teachers who... | |
NW759 by Mrs L F Tito - What measures have been put in place by her... | |
NW296 by Ms N N Chirwa - What steps has she taken to ensure that the... | |
NW686 by Mrs D van der Walt - (1) (a) How is the equitable share calculation... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill | 10 Jan 2022 | B2-2022 | Under consideration by the National Assembly. |
Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill | 13 Oct 2017 | X-2017 | |
Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill | 27 Oct 2010 | B36-2010 | Act commenced |
General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Amendment Bill | 09 Jul 2008 | B35-2008 | Act commenced |
Higher Education Amendment Bill | 09 Jun 2008 | B34-2008 | Act commenced |
National Qualifications Framework Bill | 09 Jun 2008 | B33-2008 | Act commenced |
Education Laws Amendment Bill | 20 Aug 2007 | B33-2007 | Act commenced |
Further Education and Training Colleges Bill | 16 Oct 2006 | B23-2006 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 43 out of 125 for NAMembership
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Adoons, Ms NGANC
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Boshoff, Dr WJFF+
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Holomisa, Dr BHUDM
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Letsie, Mr WTANC
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Mashabela, Ms NEFF
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Ngcobo, Mr SLIFP
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Sibisi, Mr CHMNFP
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Siwela, Mr EKANC
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Sukers, Ms MEACDP
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Yabo, Mr BSANC
Contact
Secretary of Committee:
Llewellyn Brown
Tel: 021 403 3764
Cell: 083 709 8450
Email: lbrown@parliament.gov.za
Secretary to Chairperson:
Rowena Nourse
Tel: 021 403 3174
Email: rnourse@parliament.gov.za
Cell: 083 709 8441