President’s State of the Nation Address and Appropriation Bill: Parliamentary Research Unit briefings
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Meeting report
IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF WOMEN JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE
17 March 2006
PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS AND APPROPRIATION BILL: PARLIAMENTARY RESEARCH UNIT BRIEFINGS
Acting Chairperson:
Documents handed out:
President’s State of the Nation Address of 3 February 2006
Parliamentary Research Unit briefing: Overview of the 2006 State of the Nation Address and its Implications for Parliament: Part 1 & 2
Parliamentary Research Unit briefing: Analysis of the Appropriation Bill
SUMMARY
The importance of the State of the Nation Address was highlighted as an important means to show the government’s priorities and concerns with regards to policy. The Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa and social service delivery were emphasized as having definitive implications for female citizens and for Parliament. The question of energy provision was expressed as a concern by members of the Committee and alternative energy sources were suggested. The Committee considered how to address the allocation of inadequate resources to gender issues by different departments of government, highlighted by a discussion of the Appropriation Bill. Members also questioned why certain departments have not budgeted for gender issues and also inquired why a high percentage of the national budget was allotted to defence.
MINUTES
The Chairperson noted that only eight of the 28 Committee Members were present, and she and several other Members expressed their dissatisfaction. She also reported that the Johannesburg Consolidated Industries Limited (JCI) had been supposed to do a presentation but had had to cancel because of a ‘double booking’.
Parliamentary Research Unit briefing: State of the Nation Address
Mr Fernel Abrahams (Parliamentary Researcher) said that the State of the Nation Address was important because it showed the governments’ priorities and concerns, but pointed out that it showed no sign of new policy from the President. His presentation concerned the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of SA (ASGISA); and the social services delivery implications for female citizens and for Parliament.
During the presentation, the Deputy Chairperson, Ms S Mabe (ANC), Ms D Morobi (ANC) and Mr F Maserumbule (ANC) expressed dissatisfaction because the paper handed out was not designed for a presentation.
Discussion
Mr Maserumbule also said that the presentation was too general and did not concern gender issues specifically. He further claimed that the presenters were not adequately prepared for the meeting. Several other Members agreed.
Ms J Watson (Researcher at the Parliamentary Research Unit) said that each issue mentioned had gender implications, but said that the presenters could highlight gender issues under each section. They agreed to send a memorandum with specific gender issues.
Ms J Semple (DA) asked what the Dube Trade Port was. The presenters could not answer this question.
Ms M Ragbally (IFP) asked about the next steps for increasing energy. One of the presenters said that Parliament would take this further.
Ms D Morobi (ANC) said that there was a plan to reduce the use of paraffin and prioritise the use of gas in cases of power cuts. This was a long-term project.
Parliamentary Research Unit briefing: Appropriation Bill:
Ms B Diutlwileng (Researcher at the Parliamentary Research Unit) said the document handed out was not designed for a presentation but she would answer Committee questions. The Appropriation Bill was just about how money was allocated to the different departments. To get an understanding of the national budget, the Appropriation Bill should be read in conjunction with the Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE) and the Revenue Bill. During her analysis of the Appropriation Bill, she had learned that gender issues remained ‘policy issues’ and some departments had still not set aside budgets for addressing problems.
Discussion
The Chairperson asked how the Committee should approach the departments that had not budgeted for gender issues. Ms Diutlwileng thought it was best to approach them during the negotiations on refunding.
Ms Semple asked which departments had not budgeted for addressing gender issues and why such a high percentage of the budget was still allotted to defence. Ms Diutlwileng could not name departments, but said if gender issues were not mentioned in the Estimates for National Expenditure, they were not budgeted for.
The meeting was adjourned.
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