Postponed: Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Annual Report 2021/2022

Meeting report

The Chairperson noted the confusion around the date of the meeting which meant the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) was not present.

Mr M Rayi (ANC, Eastern Cape) suggested the meeting be convened next week Wednesday afternoon at 2pm, after the morning session, as there was no plenary session last week.

The Chairperson agreed this was a progressive idea. 

Mr T Brauteseth (DA, KZN) said he would not be available. He would submit his input in writing.

There was agreement the meeting would be postponed to next week afternoon.

The Chairperson apologised for the confusion.

The meeting was adjourned.
 

Discussion
 
It was reported by (00:07) that was a mistake in the meeting schedule of the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DPME) schedule. According to the department, it was indicated that the Select Committee would meet with the department on Wednesday the 24th of November 2022 when in actuality the meeting took place on the 23rd of November 2022. As a result, the DPME received the wrong Select Committee meeting date.

The Chairperson understood the confusion and then enquired about when the next Select Committee meeting would take place.

The Chairperson was informed then that the next Select Committee would take place on the 30th of November 2022. The meeting on the 30th of November will be with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)

The Chairperson then enquired if was possible to host both PRASA and the DPME separately on the 30th of November

Mr M Rayi (ANC, Eastern Cape) greeted the Chairperson and enquired if there was a possibility of a meeting on the 24th of November for those available on the 24th of November.

The Chairperson acknowledged the inquiry from Mr M Rayi (ANC) and began to check the Select Committee schedule.

Mr Rayi informed the Chairperson that his inquiry was motivated by the fact that on the 24th of November there are no other caucuses available apart from the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus.

Mr Rayi further stated that he was unsure if female Standing Committee members such as Ms M Moshodi (ANC, Free State), Ms B Mathevula (EFF, Limpopo) and Ms M Mamaregane (ANC, Limpopo) would attend a Select Committee on the same day as the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus.

Mr Rayi acknowledged that one Select Committee alone was taxing enough and that the further addition of committee meetings with DPME and PRASA would add further complications. For example, it would be difficult for MPs to be present and active to ask questions in both meetings.

Mr Rayi also added that if the proposed meeting on the 24th of November was not feasible then the parliamentary must proceed as usual irrespective of the aforementioned schedule conflict.

The Chairperson added that other challenges for the proposed 24th November meeting included committee members gaining “the approval of the Chief Whip”.

The Chairperson also requested committee members to acknowledge the meeting date mistake and to meet with (03:37). He also expressed concern for the inconvenience for female committee members who would require attendance approval from their political parties for the prosed 24th November meeting.

Mr Rayi agreed with the concerns of the Chairperson. He further added that apart from the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, other political parties might also have their political caucuses which would further add to attendance concerns.

Mr T Brauteseth (DA, KZN) apologized for his late arrival as it was caused by connection problems that he was experiencing.

Mr Brauteseth informed the Chairperson that he will have to leave the meeting around 12:00. He stated that he had a prior engagement with the University of Witwatersrand where he needed to present a defence panel as part of his Master’s degree.

Mr Brauteseth also indicated that he will be unable for the 24th of November as his political party the Democratic Alliance (DA) will be having a caucus.

Ms Mathevula informed the Select Committee that she is experiencing connection problems which would hamper her participation in the committee. This is because every 2 hours, she experiences power cuts in the area where she is living.

The Chairperson further highlighted that there was a “mix-up” between the DPME and the Select Committee Secretary as the department believed that the Select Committee was on the 24th instead of the 23rd of November.

The Chairperson further stated that since the Select Committee does not have any planned committee from 10:00 to 12:00 on the 24th of November it will create schedule challenges. He further added that the committee will struggle to proceed without the DPME’s participation.

The Chairperson also stated that he wanted to allow committee members to continue with their tasks for the day.

Mr Rayi stated that he would like to invite the DPME on the 30th of November as the Chairperson referenced earlier. He further suggested that on the 30th of November, the Select Committee can meet with PRASA from 10:00 until 12:00 before taking a break at 13:00 before reconvening at 14:00. Then the Standing Committee will then meet with the DPME at 14:00.

The Chairperson indicated his approval of the suggestion from Mr Rayi if were no objections from committee members. He then instructed the Select Committee Secretary to meet with the DPME to discuss their participation on the 30th of November.

Mr Brauteseth agreed with the Select Committee meeting on the 30th of November however he indicated that he would not be available as he will be participating in a by-election. Instead, he asked that Chairperson receive a submission of his questions for the 30th of November meeting.

The Chairperson accepted Mr Brauteseth’s request.

The Chairperson then called on the members of the committee to agree with the proposed 30th November meeting date between the Select Committee and DPME at 14:00. The committee would take place if the DPME would be available as no plenary would be taking place during that afternoon.

(08:10) reminded the Chairperson that the Select Committee was unable to meet with the Department of Transport (DOT) during the previous week.

The Chairperson responded by enquiring If the Select Committee with DOT would take place in the afternoon.

(08:37) corrected the Chairperson by saying that the Select Committee would meet with PRASA and DOT in the morning. During the afternoon, the Select Committee will meet with the DPME.

The Chairperson agreed on the Select Committee meeting with the DOT. However, he stated the two separate Select Committee meetings with PRASA and the DPME taking place on the 30th of November. He argued that two meetings alone would be “detailed and complex”.

(09:04) in response to the Chairperson, the proposed Select Committee with the DOT excluded was from the 30th of November schedule.

The Chairperson thanked the committee for their participation and apologies for the “mix-up” with the DPME. He further indicated that the Select Committee will be willing to host the DPME during the afternoon on the 30th of November if they are available.

The Chairperson then formally postponed the Select Committee until next week

Meeting adjourned