Police
National Assembly Committee
About this committee
Oversight responsibility of Police Portfolio Committee
The Police Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Police and the SA Police Service (SAPS) as well as the following statutory entities:
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)
Civilian Secretariat for Police Service
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA)
National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board (DNA Board)
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.
NW276 by Ms Z Majozi - Considering that the President, Mr M C... | |
NW253 by Rev K R J Meshoe - What are the full details of the strategy that... | |
NW245 by M.Gen O S Terblanche - Whether he has found that the SA Police... | |
NW239 by Mr B C Golding - What are the details of the contingency plans... | |
NW200 by Mr W F Faber - 1) What are the details of the (a) destination... | |
NW4008 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) What total number of (a) firearms and (b)... | |
NW2533 by Dr P J Groenewald - 1) With reference to his reply to question 882... | |
NW4161 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether his department has records of the... | |
NW4159 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether the SA Police Service has records of... | |
NW4160 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether the SA Police Service (SAPS) has... | |
NW4222 by Mr D Joseph - What total number of (a) police officers, (b)... | |
NW4223 by Mr D Joseph - (I) On what date will the (a) construction of... | |
NW3964 by Ms Z Majozi - (1) What has he found to be the (a) extent of... | |
NW2686 by Gen O S Terblanche - What total number of (a) firearms belonging to... | |
NW3776 by M.Gen O S Terblanche - Whether his trip to the 2023 Rugby World Cup... | |
NW3945 by Mr G R Krumbock - Whether (a) he, (b) the Deputy Minister and... | |
NW3758 by Mr S Tambo - What (a) was his role at the 2023 Rugby World... | |
NW3734 by Ms N P Sonti - Whether a police station will be opened in... | |
NW3723 by Ms P Marais - What are the reasons that the Wesselsbron... | |
NO619 by Mr A M Seabi - (1) What progress has been made by the... | |
NO635 by Mr A G Whitefield - With reference to the VIP Protection Officers... | |
NO629 by Ms Z Majozi - What has been the extent and nature of the SA... | |
NO607 by Rev K R J Meshoe - Whether, given that the SA Police Service is... | |
NW3124 by Ms N Mhlongo - With reference to the tavern shootings which... | |
NW2860 by Prof CT Msimango - (1) What number of persons who are repeat... | |
NW3142 by Mr B N Herron - (1) (a) What National Training Standards apply... | |
NW3042 by Mr B N Herron - (1) With reference to sections 199(1) and... | |
NW2678 by Mr A G Whitfield - Whether, with regard to the release of the... | |
NW2856 by Ms L L van der Merwe - What (a) total number of (i) magistrates, (ii)... | |
NW2695 by Mr A G Whitfield - (1) What total number of (a) gang-related... | |
NW2622 by Ms P Madokwe - (1) What steps of intervention has the SA... | |
NW2603 by Ms Z Majozi - What are the details of how new recruits are... | |
NW2532 by Dr P J Groenewald - What (a) total number of murders have been... | |
NW2534 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) Whether the cause of death of a certain... | |
NW2939 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) What was the (a) total cost and (b) legal... | |
NW2878 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) What progress has been made with the... | |
NW2241 by Ms LH Arries - What (a) total number of (i) police officers... | |
NW2602 by Ms Z Majozi - How has the SA Police Service made use of the... | |
NW2643 by Mr K Ceza - What proactive measures have been taken to... | |
NW2383 by Mr A C Roos - (1) with reference to each farm attach... | |
NW2005 by Mr H A Shembeni - What total number of litigation matters are... | |
NW1795 by Mr P Madokwe - What are the (a) statistics of SA Police... | |
NW412 by Dr P J Groenewald - 1. What total number of members of the SA... | |
NW510 by Dr P J Groenewald - 1. What total number of members of the SA... | |
NW2241 by Mr P Madokwe - What (a) total number of (i) police officers... | |
NW1625 by Dr P J Groenewald - Whether the firearms and ammunition that were... | |
NW1179 by Ms P Madokwe - Whether he has been informed of allegations... | |
NW1087 by Mr H A Shembeni - Whether, the Government will give effect to... | |
NW2138 by Dr P J Groenewald - 1) What total number of SA Police Service... | |
NW2447 by Ms Z Majozi - Given that mass shootings, such as the... |
Attendance
Ranked 13 out of 195 for NAMembership
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Gericke, Mr VEFF
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Gomba, Ms MMANC
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Majozi, Ms ZIFP
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Marekwa, Ms GPANC
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Masuku, Mr MBANC
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Meshoe, Rev KRACDP
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Molekwa, Ms MAANC
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Peacock, Ms NPANC
Contact
Secretaries of Committee:
Babalwa Mbengo
Tel: 021 403 3741
Cell: 083 709 8489
Email: [email protected]
Secretary To Chairperson:
Nobesuthu Sihawu
Cell: 083 709 8498
Email: [email protected]