Premium content from before 2023 is now available for everyone!
  1. Committees
  2. National Assembly
  3. Public Works and Infrastructure
  4. Tabled Reports

ATC241113: Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure’s Report on the Capacity Building Workshop, dated 13 November 2024

Public Works and Infrastructure

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure’s Report on the Capacity Building Workshop, dated 13 November 2024

 

The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, having held a Capacity Building Workshop in Tshwane (Gauteng), from 7 to 9 October 2024, reports as follows:

1 ATTENDANCE

 

  1. Committee Members

  1. Ms CM Phiri, MP (ANC, Leader of the Delegation)

  2. Ms NE Nkosi, MP (ANC)

  3. Mr M Dlelanga, MP(ANC)

  4. Mr S Mahlangu, MP (ANC)

  5. Mr EM Bath, MP (DA)

  6. Mr EJ Marais, MP (DA)

  7. Mr V Reddy, MP (MKP)

  8. Mr NI Nxumalo, MP (MKP)

  9. Mr S Gama, MP (MKP)

  10. Mr LG Mokoena, MP (EFF)

  11. Ms M Kobe, MP (Action SA)

 

  1. Committee Support

  1. Ms N Matinise (Committee Secretary)

  2. Mr S Denyssen (Content Advisor)

  3. Ms S Letlhake (Committee Assistant)

  4. Ms I Stephney (Researcher)

  5. Mr J Majozi (Communications Officer)

  6. Ms S Tshomela (Camera Operator, Broadcasting)

  7. Mr A Ndlela (Broadcasting)

  8. Mr P Jikelo (Official Photographer)

 

The Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and Deputy Director – General: Intergovernmental Relations also attended in support of the programme.

2 INTRODUCTION

2.1. Background

With the advent of the 7th session of Parliament, new Members of Parliament (MPs) who joined the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure (PCPWI) expressed the need for training in the sector of public works and infrastructure.

This need agrees with the recommendations emanating from the Strategic Planning sessions of the PCPWI in the 6th Parliament that emphasised the need for training focused on the complex intergovernmental terrain of public works and infrastructure. The recommendation was reported in the Legacy Report of the 6th Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure that urged for training to ideally happen closest to the start of the 7th Parliamentary term.

The PCPWI Support Personnel completed introductory sessions with new Members of Parliament on 24 July 2024. This took place within a tight schedule that did not allow for full engagement, review, and follow-ups. These introductory sessions needed to be followed up with a properly focused training and strategic planning session.

The Constitutional and legislative system of cooperative interrelated, and interdependent information sharing through reporting among the three spheres is the foundation of accountable, transparent, responsive and efficient government. We turn to an unpacking of this system that provides a solid basis for intergovernmental oversight over executive action.

This is followed by linking this to some commonly accepted knowledge fields in academia to suggest a disjuncture between these and the practice inside legislatures. In the final sections, the argument is that when the three spheres of government do not cooperate along the Constitutionally provided values and principles it results in dysfunction in one (often municipalities) or all three spheres. Disjointed governmental spheres lead to a dysfunctional government. It does not comply with the Constitution and South African law.

During its first two meetings, the 7th Parliament Committee resolved to prioritise oversight visits amongst others, more so to areas that were highlighted on the 6th Parliament Legacy Report. Coupled to the Capacity Building Workshop, visits to the DPWI Head Office and its entities would enhance the knowledge capacity of Members of the Committee as they would gain first – hand experience of what transpires in day-to-day operations.

The Committee subsequently partnered with the National School of Government and Wits School of Construction Economics and Management for the information packaging and facilitation of the workshop.

2.2. Objective

The objective of the session was to ensure that Members can deal with the technical aspect of legislation more effectively, thereby ensuring that the pieces of legislation produced are of a high standard and that Members are able to acquaint themselves with the work of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) and its entities.

3 DAY 1: MONDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2024

On the first day of the capacity building session, the Committee heard presentations from Prof Busani Ngcaweni (Principal: National School of Government), Dr Cassius Lubisi (Director General: NSG), Prof. Thuli Madonsela (Stellenbosch University), Ms Phindile Mkhwanazi (NSG), Ms Tintswalo Masia (Office of the Auditor General) and Ms Phumla Williams (NSG Fellow) who facilitated the following topics:

  • Socio-economic and political perspective: National, continental and global scene

  • Legislative environment and systems architecture (implication of the GNU/coalitions)

  • Understanding portfolio committee mandate and leadership responsibilities

  • Overview of the Parliament Oversight Model and Parliamentary Public Participation Model

  • Ethical decision making

  • Understanding boundaries of executive oversight

  • Case study (Commission reports: inquiry into allegations of state capture and lessons in role clarification, delegations, ethics, interference

  • Role of political leadership in effective oversight and financial accountability

  • Principles of government communication

  • Media engagement protocol

 

4 DAY 2: TUESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2024

 

On the second day of the capacity building session, the Committee heard presentations from Ms Phindile Mkhwanazi (National School of Government), Mr Batho Mokgothu (Infrastructure South Africa), Dr Hubert Joynt (Infrastructure South Africa) Dr Msizi Myeza (CEO: Council for the Built Environment) and Prof. Ron Watermeyer (Wits School of Construction Economics and Management) on the following topics:

  • Oversight and accountability - National Infrastructure Investment Plan and Programmes

  • State of the built environment sector

  • Infrastructure projects and provincial – municipal capabilities

  • the other industries

  • Characteristics of infrastructure

  • Primary functions of the DPWI and entities over which the Committee has oversight when it comes to infrastructure delivery and asset management

  • Infrastructure project outcomes

 

5 DAY 3: WEDNESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2024

 

  • On the third and last day of the session, Prof Ron Watermeyer continued with more topics on the sector specific empowerment aspect of the programme. The topics focused on the following:

  • Key pieces of legislation that impact upon infrastructure delivery and asset management [The Constitution, Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA), Infrastructure Development Act (IDA), Climate Change Act (CCA)]

  • Key focus areas of the public works entities in infrastructure delivery and asset management [Independent Development Trust (IDT), Council for the Built Environment (CBE), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Agrément SA and Infrastructure South Africa (ISA)]

 

 

6 RECOMMENDATION

 

Having considered the findings that emerged from, and are evident in the deliberations, the Committee recommends that Parliament must adopt the Capacity Building Model as part of its on-boarding programme and roll it out to all Portfolio and Select Committees in order to fully capacitate all Members of Parliament.

 

Report to be noted.

Documents

What's wrong with this page?