ATC140211: 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

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.