Interim report of the
Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform on the Restitution of
Land Rights Amendment Bill [B 35 – 2013] (National Assembly– sec 76), dated 05
February 2014
The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development
and Land Reform having considered the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill
[B 35 – 2013] (National Assembly –
sec 76), classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 76 Bill and
referred to it, reports as follows:
The Bill seeks to amend the Restitution of
Land Rights Act, 1994, so as to amend the cut-off date for lodging a claim for
restitution; to further regulate the appointment, tenure of office,
remuneration and the terms and conditions of service of judges of the Land
Claims Court; to make further provision for the advertisement of claims; to
create certain offences; to extend the Minister’s powers of delegation; and to
provide for matters connected therewith.
1.
OBJECTS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
The objects of the additional amendments are
as follows:
-
Inclusion
of a clause that provide for the prioritization of claims lodged no later than
31 December 1998 and which were not finalised at the date of the commencement
of the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act of, 2014.
-
Inclusion
of the publication in a Gazette and the media circulating nationally and in the
relevant provinces.
2.
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED
Assembly Rule 249(3)(b)
provides that a committee may, if it is considering a Bill that amends
provisions of the legislation, seek the permission of the Assembly to inquire
into amending other provisions of that legislation. Accordingly, the Committee requests
permission to amend other sections in the Restitution of Land Rights Act (No.
22 of 1994) other than what is amended through the Bill as introduced.
3. RECOMMENDATION
The Committee therefore recommends that the
National Assembly grants permission in terms of Assembly Rule 249(3)(b) for it to amend other sections of the Restitution of
Land Rights Act (No. 22 of 1994).
Report to be considered.