Committee Annual Report: Adoption

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
14 November 2001
COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Ms H.I. Bogopane

Relevant Documents:
Annual Committee Report (expected 21 November)

SUMMARY
The Committee considered and adopted the Annual Report. The Committee will send representatives to the International Disability Day events being held in the Eastern Cape in December. It is organised by the Office for the Status of Disabled Persons in the Presidency.

MINUTES
International Disability Day
The Chair informed the Committee that International Disability Day was a day to be observed and represented by all political parties. The following three Members had been selected to form part of the official delegation of the Office on the Status of Disabled Person's function in the Eastern Cape on 3 December 2001, namely: (i) Cindi (ANC); (ii) Setola (ANC); and (iii) Ditebe (ANC).

Mr Da Camara (DP) stated that Mr Gore (DP) wished to attend the function. However, as a result of his absence this had yet to be confirmed. Ms Witbooi (NNP) nominated herself to represent her party at the function in the Eastern Cape. No objections were raised by other Members. The Chair then closed the discussion on the International Disability Day.

Annual Report
The Chair then proceeded to consider the Annual Report for adoption. She advised that the most crucial part of the Report was the recommendations and urged members to engage in debate and discussion. The Chair took Committee members through the Annual Report. No objections were raised to the following. Background, Composition, Functions, Sub-committees and Support staff profile.

However, Da Camara (DP) stated that the statistics as contained under 6.1 on page 7 required qualification because it related to the status of Parliament within the institution itself.

Mr Ditebe (ANC) said that this elaboration should form part of scheduled table contained on page 9 of the Report which related to the NCOP, the various political parties and the number of meetings attended by their affiliates. The Chair agreed.

With comment to the above, Mr Lucas (ANC) advised that the unavailability of the Deputy Chair should be qualified. The Chair responded by saying that an annexure was to be attached to the Report in this regard.

The Chair continued with the remainder of the Report and no objections were raised regarding the following. Members attendance at Committee meetings, Committee Reports, Briefings and Appearances of National and Government Departments. Also Briefings and appearances of statutory bodies, NGO/institution submissions. Training, Papers, reports referred to the Committee in ATC's, Public Hearings, Visits, International Participation, Tabling, Public Participation Activities / Interaction with Institutions and Review of Year's work - recommendations and conclusions.

The Chair asked Committee members if their personal assistants should also be acknowledged. Mr Mzimande replied that they should be included, particularly for budget purposes.

The Chair put the last page of the Report before Committee members for consideration and adoption. Members were asked to provide input on these recommendations, alternatively to note any grammatical or spelling errors that may have been overlooked.

Apart from minor grammatical and spelling errors evident, the Committee was in agreement with most of the recommendations. However, it was proposed by Mr Ditebe that recommendation number three be linked and paraphrased to recommendation number five. The end result, he stated, should read as follows:

"The diversity of the Committee be acknowledged as the Committee deals with three sectors when administrative and research staff is allocated to enhance the Committee's response to its challenges."

All Members agreed with this view.

This concluded the discussion of the recommendations at which the Chair proposed that it be placed before the Committee for adoption. It was seconded by Ms Witbooi (NNP); Mr Da Camara (DP) and Mr Ditebe (ANC).

The meeting was adjourned until 16 January 2002.