Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
The Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) as well as the following statutory entities:
Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
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.
NW4696 by Ms M D Hlengwa - Considering the crime statistics that were... | |
NW4695 by Ms M D Hlengwa - (1)With reference to one of the priorities of... | |
NW3999 by Ms A M Siwisa - (1)(a) What initiatives has she taken... | |
NW3927 by Mrs T P Msane - Aside from drive shows, imbizos and other talk... | |
NW4013 by Mr A M Shaik Emam - What measures did she and/or her Office put in... | |
NW4012 by Mr S Ngcobo - Whether she intends to implement any measures... | |
NW4011 by Ms N K Sharif - What are the relevant details of how the (a)... | |
NW4010 by Ms N K Sharif - What (a) is the current status of the task... | |
NW4005 by Ms M D Hlengwa - Considering that the report of the... | |
NW4007 by Mrs KNF Hlonyana - What steps has she taken to preserve the... | |
NW4009 by Mr M Bagraim - What monitoring steps has her Office taken to... | |
NW4408 by Mr J Engelbrecht - What is the (a) total number of staff employed... | |
NW4142 by Mr M Bagraim - What steps will she take to ensure that the... | |
NW3470 by Ms M D Hlengwa - (1)How has her department collaborated with... | |
NW3469 by Ms M D Hlengwa - What (a) steps has her department taken to... | |
NW3364 by Ms A M Siwisa - With reference to the 12 shelters for persons... | |
NW3363 by Ms A M Siwisa - With reference to her reply to question 486... | |
NW3030 by Ms M D Hlengwa - Considering that the youth unemployment rate... | |
NW3029 by Ms M D Hlengwa - Considering that one of the resolutions at the... | |
NW3201 by Ms M D Hlengwa - Whether, in light of reported acts of... | |
NW3006 by Ms E R J Spies - Whether she and/or her Office submitted a... | |
NO486 by Mr B N Herron - With reference to the National Gender Based... | |
NO464 by Ms C M Phiri - Considering that gender-based violence and... | |
NO468 by Ms A S Hlongo - Given that the improvement of the financial... | |
NO472 by Ms T S Masondo - Given that it is the vision of her Office to... | |
NO475 by Ms M D Hlengwa - How does her Office intend to continue to... | |
NO476 by Ms M D Hlengwa - In light of the fact that 855 women were... | |
NO480 by Ms N P Sonti - Whether she has had an inter-ministerial... | |
NO481 by Ms N P Sonti - In view of the SA Police Service ‘s crime... | |
NW2479 by Ms T Breedt - (a) What (i) total number of employees of her... | |
NW2677 by Mrs N I Tarabella Marchesi - On what date did she last attend a meeting... | |
NW1122 by Mr L Mphithi - What (a) are the details, including the ranks... | |
NW1123 by Mr L Mphithi - What (a) is the total number of international... | |
NW2412 by Ms N V Mente - In light of the fact that in April 2020 the... | |
NW959 by Mr L Mphithi - What are the relevant details of the (a)... | |
NW735 by Mr S Ngcobo - with reference to the development of a... | |
NW957 by Mr L Mphithi - Whether her Office, in line with its... | |
NW1124 by Mr L Mphithi - what (a) total number of funding was disbursed... | |
NW1282 by Mr L Mphithi - What amount was spent on advertising by (a)... | |
NW1081 by Mrs T L Marawu - Whether she will account on the activities... | |
NW830 by Mr L Mphithi - What (a) number of (i) financial, (ii)... | |
NW1283 by Mr L Mphithi - what (a) number of (i) buildings, (ii)... | |
NW1187 by Mr T M Langa - What steps have been taken in the past two... | |
NW867 by Mr NE Hinana - What total amount in Rand has been spent on... | |
NW895 by Mr T R Majola - What (a) is the total number of incidents of... | |
NW832 by Mr L Mphithi - Whether her Office, in collaboration with the... | |
NW734 by Mr S Ngcobo - With reference to the development of the... | |
NW831 by Mr L Mphithi - whether any employees in her office have been... | |
NW541 by Mr T R Mjola - What is the (a) make, (b) model (c) year of... | |
NW17 by Mr M D Hlengwa - (1) Whether her Office has made progress in... |
Bill name | Date introduced | Number | Status |
---|---|---|---|
National Youth Development Agency Amendment Bill | 09 Jun 2022 | B13-2022 | Under consideration by the National Assembly. |
Traditional Courts Bill | 30 Jan 2017 | B1-2017 | Approved by Parliament. Waiting to be signed into law. |
Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill | 06 Nov 2013 | B50-2013 | Withdrawn |
Commission on Gender Equality Amendment Bill | 30 Oct 2012 | B36-2012 | Act commenced |
Traditional Courts Bill | 25 Jan 2012 | B1-2012 | Lapsed |
Prevention And Combating Of Trafficking In Persons Bill | 15 Mar 2010 | B7-2010 | Act commenced |
Attendance
Ranked 27 out of 125 for NAMembership
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Hlengwa, Ms MDIFP
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Hlongo, Ms ASANC
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Hlonyana, Ms NKFEFF
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Marawu, Ms TLATM
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Marekwa, Ms GPANC
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Masiko, Ms FANC
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Masondo, Ms TSANC
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Ngcobo, Mr SDA
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Phiri, Ms CMANC
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Sonti, Ms NPEFF
Contact
Secretary of Committee
Neliswa Nobatana
Tel: 021 403 3840
Cell: 083709 8472
Email: nnobatana@parliament.gov.za
Secretary to Chairperson
Y Sili
Email: ysili@parliament.gov.za