Justice and Correctional Services
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee
The Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ & CD) and Department of Correctional Services (DCS) as well as the following statutory entities:
Council for Debt Collectors
Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS)
Legal Aid South Africa (LASA)
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ)
Rules Board for Courts of Law
South African Board for Sheriffs
SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
Special Investigating Unit (SIU)
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.
NW76 by Prof C. T. Msimang - In light of the fact that the Thuthuzela... | |
NW2410 by Prof C T Msimang - (1)Whether, given that a Department of... | |
NW2459 by Mr J Selfe - (1)Whether his department entered into a... | |
NW659 by Adv G Breytenbach - (1)(a) What measures have been put in place at... | |
NW600 by Adv G Breytenbach - (a) On what grounds was a certain person (name... | |
NW2856 by Prof C T Msimang - What (a) total number of extradition requests... | |
NW2468 by Ms S J Graham - Whether, with reference to the Humansdorp... | |
NW2460 by Mr J Selfe - (1)Whether any correctional centres in the... | |
NW2411 by Prof CT Msimang - What is the (a) current status of overcrowding... | |
NW1869 by Mr Q R Dyantyi - Whether he and/or his department have... | |
NW1637 by Mr M G E Hendricks - Whether, with reference to the Public... | |
NW2290 by Mr M G E Hendricks - Whether, given that nearly a year ago the... | |
NW457 by Mr F J Mulder - (1)On what grounds was parole granted to Theo... | |
NW1902 by Ms N V Mente - What number (a) of litigation matters with... | |
NW1093 by Adv G Breytenbach - What is the current status of the special... | |
NW1870 by Ms W S Newhoudt-Druchen - What assistance is being given to child... | |
NW698 by Prof C T Msimang - Whether, in view of the recognition of... | |
NW1095 by Adv G Breytenbach - (1)(a) What total number of the 19 000 inmates... | |
NW1879 by Ms N H Maseko-Jele - In order to address the issue of secondary... | |
NW1878 by Ms J M Mofokeng - What (a) total number of criminal cases were... | |
NW1871 by Ms J M Mofokeng - Regarding the legislation which will be... | |
NW1834 by Mr P Sindane - (a) What total number of (i)(aa) prison... | |
NW1831 by Ms NP Sonti - What (a) total number of persons defaulted on... | |
NW567 by Mr W Horn - What total number of (a) prisoners who have... | |
NW1118 by Mr W Horn - Whether he has considered the parole... | |
NW1646 by Ms N Tafeni - What legal steps has been taken to hold... | |
NW1116 by Mr W Horn - With reference to the deployment of members of... | |
NW446 by Mr W Horn - What was the total number of parolees in the... | |
NW1439 by Dr M M Gondwe - What total number of parolees were rearrested... | |
NW1612 by Mr M J Cuthbert - What is the (a) detailed breakdown of the... | |
NW1478 by Ms N N Chirwa - Why (i) does he encourage women to break the... | |
NW1585 by Mrs A Steyn - What (a) number of land reform cases did the... | |
NW1275 by Mr W Horn - What was the total number of criminal cases... | |
NW1094 by Adv G Breytenbach - What number of cases that emanate from the... | |
NW1001 by N August - Whether, given the settlement agreement in... | |
NW922 by Mr F J Mulder - Whether his department awarded any tenders... | |
NW701 by Prof C T Msimang - Whether he has found that the different... | |
NW561 by Dr M M Gondwe - What (a) is the current vacancy rate of his... | |
NW548 by Mr J Selfe - Whether all reports submitted to the (a)... | |
NW249 by Mr J Selfe - (1) Whether a certain person (name furnished)... | |
NW516 by Mr W Horn - (1) What total number of (a) prisoners that... | |
NW1528 by Mrs M O Clarke - (1) Whether a certain person (name and details... | |
NW546 by Mr J Selfe - (a) What number of mentally ill persons are... | |
NW1454 by Mr W Horn - What total number of (a) the 14 647 inmates... | |
NW1447 by Gen O S Terblanche - What are the (a) total number of cases related... | |
NW1452 by Mr W Horn - What number of cases were on the criminal... | |
NW1334 by Mr J W W Julius - What total number of (a) cases of illegal... | |
NW1402 by Ms C V King - (a) On what date did the MojaPay system crash... | |
NW1494 by Mr N P Masipa - (a) What is the current status of the... | |
NW410 by Ms D Kohler - What (a) is the total number of (i)(aa) male... |
Attendance
Ranked 49 out of 90 for NAMembership
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Dyantyi, Mr QRANC
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Hendricks, Mr MGEAl Jama-ah
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Horn, Mr WDA
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Mofokeng, Ms JMANC
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Moss, Ms LNANC
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Msimang, Prof CTIFP
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Ndlozi, Dr MQEFF
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Nqola, Mr XANC
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Selfe, Mr JDA
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Swart, Mr SNACDP
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Yako, Ms YEFF
Contact
Secretary of Committee:
Vhonani Ramaano
Tel: 021 403 3820
Cell: 083 709 8427
Email: vramaano@parliament.gov.za
Siyabamkela Mthonjeni
Tel: 021 403 3734
Cell: 083 709 8390
Email: smthonjeni@parliament.gov.za
Secretary To Chairperson:
Esmerelda Forbes
Tel: 021403 3089
Email: eforbes@parliament.gov.za
Cell: 083 709 8435