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.
NW779 by Mr A G Whitefield - (1) What total number of staff are actually... | |
NW275 by Ms Z Majozi - Considering statistics provided in the SA... | |
NW261 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) With reference to his reply to question... | |
NW483 by Mr M Manyi - Whether he will furnish Mr M Many with a... | |
NW776 by M. Gen O S Terblance - What is the total number of (a) open dockets... | |
NW656 by Mr M K Montwedi - What are the relevant details of the reasons... | |
NW123 by Dr P J Groenewald - (1) what was the total(a) number and (b)... | |
NW714 by Mr S Ngcobo - Whether he will furnish Mr S Ngcobo with a (a)... | |
NW566 by M. Gen O S Terblanche - With reference to his statement that the SA... | |
NW482 by Mr M Manyi - Whether he will provide a detailed explanation... | |
NW441 by Ms Z Majozi - With reference to the Commission of Gender... | |
NW256 by Mr T Loate - Whether, since 27 February 2018 when he became... | |
NW781 by Mr A G Whitfield - (1) What total number of (a) D1 -Adult Sexual... | |
NW483 by Mr M Manyi - Whether he will furnish Mr M Manyi with a... | |
NW343 by Ms S Gwarube - What are the full details of all (a)... | |
NW439 by Mr N Singh - (1) Whether any progress has been made with... | |
NW481 by Mr M Manyi - Whether he was flown in the SA Police Service... | |
NW485 by Ms N Makamba-Botya - Which recent steps of intervention have been... | |
NW521 by Mr A M Shaik Emam - What is the latest development regarding the... | |
NW554 by S Terbianche - What (a) was the total cost of arranging and... | |
NW778 by S Terblanche - What is the total number of DNA case exhibits... | |
NW825 by Ms A M Siwisa - (1) What number of suspects have been... | |
NW230 by Mr V Gericke - In light of the gross concern by the public... | |
NW847 by S Terblanche - Whether there have been any consequence... | |
NW846 by Mr A G Whitfield - (1) With reference to the current state of... | |
NW845 by Mr A G Whitfield - (1) With reference to the alleged police... | |
NW844 by Mr A G Whitfield - With reference to the special remission... | |
NW695 by M. General O S Terblanche - What is the average response time, expressed... | |
NW667 by Ms R N Komane - In light of the increase reports of children... | |
NW525 by Adv B J Mkhwebane - (1) Whether a certain person (name furnished)... | |
NW495 by Ms B Mathulelwa - Whether he has been informed that on 20... | |
NW384 by Mr M K Montwedi - In light of his commitment to construct a new... | |
NW255 by Mr T Loate - What quantity of state property and assets... | |
NW231 by Mr V Gericke - [*23][Question submitted for oral reply now... | |
NW260 by Dr P J Groenewald - Whether the SA Police Service of the Cape Town... | |
NW247 by Ms T Halse - [46] [Question submitted for oral reply now... | |
NW220 by Ms N P Peacock - [4] [Question submitted for oral reply now... | |
NW215 by Adv B J Mkhwebane - (1) What (a) are the full details and extent... | |
NW99 by Gen OS Terblanche - Given that the optimal management of the... | |
NW88 by Ms SJ Graham - (1) What is the total number of (a) detectives... | |
NW253 by Rev K R J Meshoe - What are the full details of the strategy that... | |
NW276 by Ms Z Majozi - Considering that the President, Mr M C... | |
NW245 by M.Gen O S Terblanche - Whether he has found that the SA Police... | |
NW18 by Ms Z Majozi - With reference to a fraudulent letter with the... | |
NW239 by Mr B C Golding - What are the details of the contingency plans... | |
NO2 by Mr T Loate - What steps has he taken since 27 February 2018... | |
NO3 by Mr M B Masuku - Given that the SA Police Service has launched... | |
NO54 by Rev K R Meshoe - What (a) has he found to be the root causes of... | |
NO53 by Ms Z Majozi - With reference to the 2024 State of the Nation... | |
NW19 by Ms Z Majozi - (a) How often does the SA Police Service... |
Attendance
Ranked 13 out of 195 for NAMembership
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]