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.
NW2122 by Mr N P Masipa - (1) With reference to visits seen on media... | |
NW2104 by Mr A G Whitfield - What(a) total number of the VIP Protection... | |
NW2061 by Mr AG Whitfield - Whether (a) he and (b) any member of his VIP... | |
NW2094 by Mr C H H Hunsiger - (1) What total number of persons have been... | |
NW2105 by Mr AG Whitfield - What (a) total number of SA Police Service... | |
NW2103 by Mr AG Whitfield - What are the reasons for the decline in... | |
NW1932 by Mr A G Whitfield - With regard to the total number of firearms... | |
NW1974 by Mrs D B Ngwenya - (1) What number of police stations have victim... | |
NW2053 by Ms T Breedt - What total number of SA Police Service members... | |
NW2019 by Mr W F Faber - Whether the primary reason of the firearm... | |
NW2049 by Mr A G Whitfield - Whether the National Forensic Science... | |
NW1845 by Mr H A Shembeni - What total number of (a) police officials have... | |
NW2018 by Mr W F Faber - With reference to his recommendation that the... | |
NW1830 by Mr B S Madlingozi - Whether he has taken any steps against some... | |
NW1876 by Mr M Waters (DA) - What (a) are the reasons that the Edenvale... | |
NW1926 by Mr N P Masipa - With regard to the recent illegal land... | |
NW1074 by Ms A L A Abrahams - What (a) is the total number of gender-based... | |
NW1861 by Mr H A Shembeni - What (a) did his review of the deployment of... | |
NW1090 by Ms D Kohler - 1. What(a) number of persons are currently... | |
NW1893 by Mrs D B Ngwenya - Whether there are any plans to build more... | |
NW1808 by Mr P Sindane - What number of police stations(a) had to be... | |
NW1523 by Mr M S F de Freitas - With reference to the undertaking by the... | |
NW1665 by Ms Z Majozi - (a) What number of cases of domestic violence... | |
NW1440 by Dr M M Gondwe - What (a) measures has he put in place in order... | |
NW1699 by Mr J W W Julius - Whether there are any plans to re-open the... | |
NW1489 by Mr A G Whitfield - With reference to the recruitment of SA Police... | |
NW1545 by Dr P J Groenewald - What steps are being taken by the SA Police... | |
NW1668 by Dr P J Groenewald - What (a) number of persons have been arrested... | |
NW1446 by Gen O S Terblanche - (a) What has he found to be the reasons for... | |
NW1582 by Mr A G Whitfield - What number of DNA samples received from (i)... | |
NW1682 by Mr C Brink - Whether dedicated units have been established... | |
NW1335 by Mr J W W Julius - What total number of (a) arrests did the SA... | |
NW1622 by Gen O S Terblanche - By what date does he envisage that the elite... | |
NW1714 by Gen O S Terblanche - With reference to his department informing the... | |
NW1680 by Mrs C Phillips - What are the full relevant details pertaining... | |
NW1679 by Mrs C Phillips - What are the full relevant details pertaining... | |
NW1737 by Mrs E N Ntlangwini - Whether employees in supply chain management... | |
NW1715 by Gen O S Terblanche - What (a) has he found will be the effect of... | |
NW1074 by Ms A L A Abrahams - What (a) is the total number of gender-bases... | |
NW962 by Mr Z N Mbhele - Whether, with regard to certain actions by... | |
NW1005 by Ms Z Majozi - Whether his department has found a significant... | |
NW1131 by Mr W T I Mafanya - With reference to a certain person (name... | |
NW810 by Ms Z Majozi - (a) How will the SA Police Service manage... | |
NW1297 by Ms D Kohler - What was the murder rate per 100 000 persons... | |
NW1244 by Ms Z Majozl - (1) What number of new SA Police Service... | |
NW1298 by Ms D Kohler - What is the (a) name of each athlete in his... | |
NW714 by L F Tito - What measures has he put in place to protect... | |
NW642 by Ms N V Mente - Whether he will take any action against the... | |
NW754 by Dr P J Groenewald - Whether the SA Police Service has taken any... | |
NW103 by Ms. S J Graham - What is the progress on the procurement and... |
Attendance
Ranked 26 out of 60 for NAMembership
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Faku, Ms PANC
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Galo, Mr MPAIC
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Majozi, Ms ZIFP
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Maphatsoe, Mr ERANC
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Molekwa, Ms MAANC
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Moss, Ms LNANC
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Patrein, Ms SANC
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Peacock, Ms NPANC
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Shembeni, Mr HAEFF
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Thring, Mr WMACDP
Contact
Secretaries of Committee:
Babalwa Mbengo
Tel: 021 403 3741
Cell: 083 709 8489
Email: bmbengo@parliament.gov.za
Zoleka Kula
Tel: 021 403 8646
Cell: 083 707 2185
Email: zkula@parliament.gov.za
Secretary To Chairperson:
Ntombomzi Kasi
Tel: 021 403 2105
Cell: 083 709 8411
Email: nkasi@parliament.gov.za