Committee Minutes: adoption

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

30 May 2017
Chairperson: Mr M Mdakane (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

Documents handed out:
Draft Committee Minutes dated 14 February 2017
Draft Committee Minutes dated 21 February 2017
Draft Committee Minutes dated 28 February 2017
Draft Committee Minutes dated 7 March 2017
Draft Committee Minutes dated 24 March 2017
Draft Committee Minutes dated 3 May 2017

The Committee reviewed minutes from its previous meetings on the 14, 21 and 28 February, 7 and 24 March and 3 May 2017. It did not review those from 9 and 10 May because MPs had not received copies thereof beforehand. Minutes from 24 March were adopted with one amendment to the attendance register, and the minutes of other meetings were discussed and then all adopted without amendments. The committee agreed to review minutes from the 9 and 10 May next time it sat, and called for meetings the following Tuesday and Wednesday, with one of those coming in the form of a day trip to Vredendal.

The Chairperson raised the issue of attendance at meetings. He stressed the overall importance of tabling the Bill in Parliament as the main goal for the year, and that focus, efficiency and order would be needed to achieve this. Members discussed the implications of consulting with traditional leaders, the department and parties’ decisions following constituency visits. It was acknowledged that this could delay decision making. The Chairperson urged Members to push ahead, keeping their goal of the Bill in mind. He also raised the issue of budgetary constraints probably preventing trips to Malaysia, Singapore and China to visit traditional authorities there. Regarding future procedures, the Committee agreed to look at issues from last year which had not been resolved, as well as to take into account the findings of the indaba currently taking place in Johannesburg. 

Meeting report

The Chairperson enquired if committee members had draft minutes for the meetings dated 14, 21 and 28 February, 7 and 24 March, 3, 9 and 10 May.

Mr K Mileham (DA) informed the Chairperson that members did not have minutes from 9 and 10 May, and asked that the Committee not review minutes dated beyond 3 May.

The Chairperson agreed to this proposal.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 14 February 2017

The Chairperson asked whether Members had the contents, attendance and resolution of the meeting’s minutes. He then asked if there were any amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 14 February 2017 were adopted without amendments.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 21 February 2017

The Chairperson asked whether Members had the contents, attendance, discussion on the role and involvement of Eskom and the Treasury, and resolution of the meeting’s minutes. He then asked if there were any amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 21 February 2017 were adopted without amendments.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 28 February 2017

The Chairperson asked whether Members had the introduction and issues raised in the meeting.

Mr Mileham asked that the Chairperson read the table of contents on page 2.

The Chairperson read the contents, then asked if Members had the issues raised and the resolutions arrived at. He then asked if there were any amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 28 February 2017 were adopted without amendments.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 7 March 2017

The Chairperson asked whether Members had the contents, attendance, community work programme section and resolution of the meeting’s minutes. He stressed the need for the committee to develop a programme for the resolutions of that meeting to be implemented in the future. He then asked if there were any amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 7 March 2017 were adopted without amendments.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 24 March 2017

The Chairperson noted that this meeting had been held in Pretoria. He then took Members to task, saying it was important that they keep record of their attendance of meetings so that they can show the receiver of revenue that they are meeting their obligations. He warned that they could forfeit R120 000, walking away with only R2000 or perhaps even only R200 in the end. He said not taking care will cause them harm. He also lamented the lack of ministerial involvement in the Committee.

Ms N Mthembu (ANC) stated that she had attended the meeting in Pretoria, but that she had not been recorded as having attended in the minutes.

The Chairperson accepted this. He then asked whether Members had the other sections of the minutes, if there were any other amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved. He also reminded the committee of the need to organise a workshop for the National Assembly on the findings and resolutions of the committee.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 24 March 2017 were adopted with one amendment to the attendance section.

Draft Committee Minutes dated 3 May 2017

The Chairperson checked that Members had all sections of the minutes, then asked if there were any amendments that needed to be made, and if not, that the minutes could be approved.

The Draft Committee Minutes dated 3 May 2017 were adopted without amendments.

Discussion

The Chairperson enquired as to the whereabouts of the EFF member of the committee, saying that it is important that parties inform committees if they redeploy their MPs elsewhere.

The Chairperson referred to Amakhosi attending the indaba in Johannesburg the day before. He stressed the importance of getting similar input from Khoi San leaders, saying that more approaches must be made to them in future. He said traditional court decisions would also be relayed to the committee. He then reminded the Committee of the overall goal of tabling the Bill in Parliament before the end of the year.

Mr Mileham said that the Committee should not move too far ahead without addressing outstanding issues from last year. There should be proper tracking and recording of all resolutions, and that the budget and capacity of the Committee should be discussed. He pointed out that the Customary Initiation Bill appeared to have simply fallen aside. The Committee needed a formal programme stating what it would be focussing on and addressing.

The Chairperson said there was a general need for updates. There would be one on Friday, but others were likely to delay the Committee’s progress. This consultation process would likely push June’s objectives to July or August. All whips would have to gather information and opinions from their parties and then refer them to the Committee. Additionally, the Department was supposed to present its own findings, but had asked for more time. He wanted to grant an extension no longer than until next Tuesday. He reiterated the need to table the Bill before the end of the year. Firm decisions needed to be made regarding this before the next constituency recess. Regarding consultation with traditional leaders, he said it was likely that they would also push for more time, but urged the MPs to not doubt themselves, as they should push on with the committee’s aims anyway.

The Chairperson also addressed the issue of proposed visits to Singapore and Malaysia, saying that he doubted the resources were there to fund the trip. The budget vote at 2 pm could change things, however. He acknowledged the desire to consult with traditional leaders in those countries, as well as possibly China.

The Chairperson stressed the need to discuss these issues, saying the Committee should meet next Tuesday and Wednesday. He wanted the Committee to take a day trip to Vredendal for one of those meetings, before asking how far away that was.

Mr Mileham said that he thought Vredendal was about 100km away.

The Chairperson said they would spend the day there. He saw nothing else to discuss, except that he promised to forward the minutes from the meetings of 9 and 10 May to Members. He repeated the need to table the Bill soon.

Mr B Bhanga (DA) said he was not sure when the Department report from the Gauteng indaba would be ready, but that he wanted it for the Committee in order to provide them with guidelines for working with traditional authorities.

The meeting was adjourned.

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