ATC230221: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the South African Postbank Amendment Bill [B 12 - 2022], dated 17 February 2023

Communications and Digital Technologies

[The following report replaces the report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, which was published on page 4 of the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, dated 17 February 2023]

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the South African Postbank Amendment Bill [B 12 - 2022], dated 17 February 2023

 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (the Committee), having considered the South African Postbank Amendment [B12 - 2022] (National Assembly – section 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill with amendments [B12A – 2022] as follows:

 

1. The South African Postbank Amendment [B12-2022] was tabled in Parliament and referred to the Committee with publication on the ATC on 17 May 2022.
2. The Bill seeks to amend the South African Postbank Limited Act, 2010, to amend and insert certain definitions; to further amend the objects of the Act; to facilitate the transfer in shareholding from the South African Post Office SOC Limited to the Government and the creation of a bank controlling company for ‘‘The Postbank SOC Limited’’ in terms of the Banks Act, 1990; which will provide for the appointment of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, and provide for matters connected in addition to that.
3. The Committee met on 31 May 2022 and called for public submissions in June 2022, followed by advertisements in all official languages in print media. The closing date for these submissions was 25 July 2022.

 

1. The Committee met on 23 August 2022 and noted that only one submission was received from the public. The Committee was also informed that specific stakeholders were identified, and letters were written to these stakeholders requesting further written comments on the Bill on 5 September 2022 with the closing date for submissions being 15 September 2022. The Committee resolved to extend the call for submissions, with members deciding to approach their respective constituencies for further public comments on the Bill. A second closing date for further submissions was set for 4 October 2022.
2. The Committee held public hearings on the Bill on 25 October 2022. Organisations such as the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Banking Association of South Africa (BASA), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Ombudsman for Banking Services(OBS) and Right2Know made oral submissions.
3. On 1 November 2022, the Committee received a response from the Department regarding the public comments.  The Department also confirmed that the Postbank Amendment Bill was subjected to the SEIAS process with the confirmation that the due diligence was conducted on the financial feasibility of establishing the New Entity.
4. On 8 and 15 November 2022, the Committee further deliberated on the Bill. On 15 November 2022, the Committee resolved that there would be a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Finance for further deliberations on the Bill and also receive inputs from the Standing Committee.
5. On 16 November 2022, the Committee met jointly with the Standing Committee on

Finance on the Bill, and it was resolved that the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies was correctly identified as the Committee, by law, to deal with the amendment of the Bill.

1. On 22 November 2022, the Committee formally proceeded to deliberate on the Bill clause-by-clause and produced an A-List to the Bill. The A-List was agreed to and the Democratic Alliance registered its objection.
2. On 29 November 2022, the Committee had intended to finalise the Bill. The parliamentary law advisor, state law advisors and the departmental officials noted further amendments, which were not included in the B-version of the Bill. These amendments were highlighted and were resent for insertion and publication in the Bill to ensure that all due processes have been complied with.
3. National Assembly Rule 286(4)(i) requires that “the Committee, after due deliberation, must consider a motion of desirability on the subject matter of the Bill and, if rejected, must immediately table the Bill and its report on the Bill.” Based on all the input received and engagements on the Bill, a motion of desirability on the subject matter was placed before the Committee as required NA Rules.
4. On 17 February 2023, the Committee met to deliberate on the B-version of the Bill [B12B-2022]      and deliberated on the Bill clause-by-clause.
5. The motion on the desirability of the Bill was agreed to and the rejection of the motion of desirability of the Democratic Alliance was noted.
6. The Committee formally adopted the Bill [B12B-2022].

 

Report to be considered.