ATC240216: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation on the Statistics Amendment Bill [B31-2023], Dated: 16 February 2024

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation on the Statistics Amendment Bill [B31-2023], Dated: 16 February 2024

 

The Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (“the Committee”) having considered the Statistics Amendment Bill [B31-2023], referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a section 75 Bill, reports the bill with amendments [B31A-2023], as follows:

 

1. Background and Referral of the Bill

On 13 October 2023, the Speaker through ATC No 137—2023, of the Sixth Parliament, introduced and referred to the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Assembly, the Statistics Amendment Bill [B31-2023], as well as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160. The Bill was tagged as section 75 and was published in the Government Gazette No 49407 of 06 October 2023.

 

2.  Objects of the Bill

The objects of the Bill are:

1.  To amend the Statistics Act, 1999, so as to substitute certain definitions and insert new definitions;
2.  To amend the provisions dealing with the powers and duties of the Statistician-General;
3.  To make provision for the development and implementation of the National Statistics System and National Strategy for the Development of Statistics by the Statistician-General;
4.  To strengthen co-ordination and enhance collaboration amongst data producers and data users by creating an enabling environment for the production consumption of quality statistics within the Republic;
5. To make provision for the establishment of statistics units by organs of the state, the submission of annual statistics plans and annual reports by organs of the state and the establishment of the Statistical Clearing House in order to promote the functions and objectives of the National Statistics System;
6.   To empower the Minister to make regulations; and
7.  To provide for matters connected therewith.
   
   3. Parliamentary process
   3.1 Section 59 of the Constitution states that “the National Assembly must facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Assembly and its committees”. Having received a referral from the Speaker on the Statistics Amendment Bill, the Committee advertised the Bill on 05 November 2023 on national newspapers and Parliament Website, inviting interested individuals, organisations, academia, and relevant stakeholders to submit written comments and indicate interest for oral submissions.
   
   3.2 The advertisement closed on 24 November 2023 with only one submission received from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). On 05 December 2023, the SARB was invited to make an oral submission. Statistics South Africa was granted an opportunity to respond to the SARB submission. 
   
   3.3 Parliament Constitutional and Legal Services made presentation on the constitutionality of the Bill. The submission was well received by the Committee as there were no major issues with regards to the constitutionality of the Bill.
   
   3.4 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.
   
   3.5 The Committee Support Staff presented the Report on the Motion of Desirability, which was unanimously agreed to.
   
   3.6 Having agreed to motion of desirability, the Committee proceeded to clause-by-clause deliberations on the Bill. The Committee agreed with most of the clauses, however, three clauses were proposed for a review by the Parliament Constitutional and Legal services, in line with Members’ inputs.
   
   3.7 On 16 February 2024, the Committee adopted amendments list A&B versions of the Statistics Amendment Bill. The following minority views were expressed:

 

1. Democratic Alliance objected to the adoption of the Statistics Amendment Bill based on amendment of Clause 9.
2. Economic Freedom Fighters reserved their rights to the Bill.

 

4. Recommendation

The Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, having considered the Statistics Amendment Bill [B31-2023] referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a section 75 Bill, recommends that the House adopts the report on the bill and approves the second reading of the Statistics Amendment Bill as amended [B31B -2023].

 

Report to be considered.