Agriculture
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Agriculture Portfolio Committee
The Agriculture Portfolio Committee oversees the Department of Agriculture and its statutory entities:
Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)
Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)
Onderstepoort Biological Products Limited (OBP)
The Committee is mandated to:
- consider, amend and/or initiate legislation that is specific to, or impacts on Agriculture
- 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 of Agriculture, including the Department 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 agricultural 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.
NW939 by Ms N A Ndalane - What (a) progress has been made in... | |
NW297 by Ms B Mathulelwa - Whether he has any mechanism in place to offer... | |
NW764 by Mr G Michalakis - Whether the Director-General of his department... | |
NW81 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - Whether his department has commissioned any... | |
NW674 by Mr M K Montwedi - What are the reasons that he has been using... | |
NW321 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - (1) Given that approximately 729 persons... | |
NW259 by Mr N S Matiase - (1) Whether, considering that on 12 September... | |
NW423 by Mr T K S Letlape - (1) What are the relevant details on the... | |
NW2225 by Mr M K Montwedi - What (a) total amount has his department spent... | |
RCW707 by Ms H S Boshoff - (1) (a) What is the comprehensive list of... | |
RCW708 by Ms H S Boshoff - (1) What is the (a) comprehensive list of... | |
NW1895 by Mr R A P Trollip - (1) Whether, given recent reports that he has... | |
NW1149 by Mr M K Montwedi - (1) What (a) amount has his department... | |
NW2214 by Mr R A P Trollip - (1) Whether he intends to initiate a... | |
NW2072 by Mr M K Montwedi - What are the full details of the (a) budget... | |
NW2355 by Mr M K Montwedi - Whether, in light of the report presented to... | |
NW2222 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - In light of the fact that the agricultural... | |
NW2394 by Mr B N Luthuli - (1)(a) What measurable outcomes have been... | |
NW2023 by Mr C F B Smit - (1) what total number of vaccines for each... | |
NW1951 by Ms T L Marawu - Whether he will employ assistant agricultural... | |
NW2022 by Mr C F B Smit - Whether the Onderstepoort Biological Products... | |
NW2226 by Mr M K Montwedi - (1) What is his department’s position with... | |
RCW592 by Ms N P Mcinga - (a) What programmes are currently in place to... | |
RCW690 by Ms T Breedt - (1) With reference to the presentation to the... | |
RCW625 by Ms H S Boshoff - Whether any (a) steps and/or (b) measures have... | |
RCW624 by Ms H S Boshoff - What collaboration has taken place between his... | |
RCW626 by Ms H S Boshoff - Whether any steps have been taken to address... | |
NW1559 by Mr C F B Smit - What is the role of the sector education and... | |
NW1561 by Mr C F B Smit - What impact (a) on efficiency of operations... | |
NW1560 by Mr C F B Smit - What has he found to be the (a) level of... | |
NW2130 by Mr M K Montwedi - Whether his department utilises the farmer... | |
NW2105 by Ms S W Davids - How is he dealing with the impact of weak... | |
NW1582 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - (1) Regarding the critical role of small-scale... | |
NW1548 by Ms B S Masango - (1) Whether, given the ever-increasing food... | |
NW1723 by Mr R A P Trollip - Whether, noting that the United Nations... | |
NW1624 by Mr C F B Smit - (1) With reference to the Onderstepoort... | |
NW2129 by Mr M K Montwedi - Considering that extension services are a... | |
NW1596 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - Given that the National Agricultural Marketing... | |
NW2109 by Ms N A Ndalane - Whether there are any contingency measures in... | |
NW1898 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - Given the substantial evidence connecting... | |
NW1383 by Mr C F B Smit - What is the total number of government... | |
NW1466 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - (1) Whether, regarding South Africa's... | |
NW1440 by Mr R A P Trollip - (1) What is the total number of malpractice... | |
NW1623 by Mr C F B Smit - (a) On what date did the Onderstepoort... | |
NW1139 by Mr N S Matiase - What steps has he put in place to ensure that... | |
NW1294 by Mr R A P Trollip - (a) What are the relevant details of the... | |
RNW1423 by Dr W J Boshoff - Whether, considering that some of the... | |
NW1232 by Mr C F B Smit - (1) What (a) are the reasons that his... | |
NW981 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - Whether, with reference to challenges faced by... | |
RNW1253 by Inkosi R N Cebekhulu - (1) Recognising that farming is the backbone... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Deeds Registries Amendment Bill | 02 Nov 2022 | B28-2022 | Act partially commenced |
Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill | 16 Aug 2021 | B15-2021 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill | 29 Jul 2021 | B14-2021 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill | 22 Apr 2021 | B8-2021 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Animals Protection Amendment Bill | 03 Feb 2021 | B1-2021 | Rejected |
Agricultural Produce Agents Amendment Bill | 26 Nov 2020 | B33-2020 | Withdrawn |
Sectional Titles Amendment Bill | 02 Nov 2020 | B31-2020 | Act commenced |
Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Amendment Bill | 06 May 2020 | B6-2020 | Act commenced |
National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill | 03 Nov 2016 | B22-2016 | Withdrawn |
National Forests Amendment Bill | 21 Jul 2016 | B11-2016 | Act commenced |
Liquor Products Amendment Bill | 07 Jul 2016 | B10-2016 | Act commenced |
Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill | 12 Mar 2015 | B11-2015 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Performing Animals Protection Amendment Bill | 03 Mar 2015 | B9-2015 | Act commenced |
Plant Improvement Bill | 03 Mar 2015 | B8-2015 | The bill has been signed into law. |
Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill | 13 Sep 2013 | B30-2013 | Act commenced |
Fertilizers and Feeds Bill | 27 Nov 2012 | B41-2012 | Withdrawn |
Veterinary and Para-veterinary Professions Amendment Bill | 13 Jun 2012 | B25-2012 | Act commenced |
Provision of Land And Assistance Amendment Bill | 12 Jun 2008 | B40-2008 | Act commenced |
Land Use Management Bill | 28 May 2008 | B27-2008 | Lapsed |
Agricultural Debt Management Repeal Bill | 23 May 2008 | B24-2008 | Act commenced |
Liquor Products Amendment Bill | 21 May 2008 | B22-2008 | Act commenced |
Sectional Titles Amendment Bill | 16 May 2006 | B8-2006 | Act commenced |
Deeds Registries Amendment Bill | 04 May 2006 | B5-2006 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 26 out of 72 for NAMembership
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Aucamp, Mr WDA
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Davids, Ms SANC
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Lucas, Ms SEANC
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Madlala, Mr KBMKP
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Mahlatsi, Mr LWUAT
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Mjadu, TSMKP
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Mngxitama, Mr AMKP
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Montwedi, Mr MkEFF
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Ndalane, Ms NAANC
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Sekoati, Mr SCANC
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Smit, Mr CFDA
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Trollip, Mr AAction SA
Contact
Secretaries of Committee:
Albertina Kakaza
Tel: 021 403 3765
Cell: 083 709 8391
Email: [email protected]
Chairperson’s Secretary
Nonzwakazi Stemele
Cell: 083 709 8496
Email: [email protected]