DOT & entities 2019/20 Annual Performance Plans draft report: finalisation of Committee observations and recommendations

Meeting report

The Chairperson informed Members that there had been a request for the Transport Portfolio Committee to appear on television more often, and requested the Committee Secretary to book venues that were more suitable to be televised.

He outlined the meeting’s agenda, and asked the Committee whether there were other matters arising for adoption in the agenda. Members were satisfied with the meeting’s agenda.

Annual Performance Plans: draft report

The Chairperson asked Members to consider the adoption of the draft report.

Mr L Mangcu (ANC) moved to adopt the draft report.

The Chairperson said that there was no seconder for the motion. If a Member made a recommendation that had not been tested or considered by the Committee, it could not be accepted as a resolution.

He asked Mr Mangcu (whether the recommendations he made in the draft report were the amended recommendations to be adopted in the draft report.

Mr Mangcu confirmed the amended recommendations he had made, and moved the adoption of the draft report as amended.

Mr L McDonald (ANC) seconded Mr Mangcu’s motion .

The Chairperson accepted the endorsement, and asked Members whether they had any dissenting views.

Ms M Ramadwa (ANC) recommended that a summary of the Committee’s recommendations and resolutions be made available to Members, to better account for the Committee’s decisions. 

Mr C Hunsinger (DA) said that the Committee had agreed on a recommendation at their last meeting, which was accepted by the Acting Chairperson, which stated that Members would have the opportunity to submit views in addition to what was tabled in the draft report.  These recommendations were the colour-coded recommendations drafted in the current report.  He stressed that the current recommendations had to be considered before the draft report could be adopted. He suggested that the Committee first consider the current recommendations and agree on the recommendations that were most representative of the Committee’s views before adopting the report.

The Chairperson noted Mr Hunsinger’s recommendations.

Mr Mangcu agreed with Mr Hungsinger. The Committee had agreed on a timeframe to allow Members to read the draft report and make recommendations and amendments. It was immaterial who contributed to the draft report, but Members had to have the opportunity to interrogate the draft report’s recommendations upon having read the report.

The Chairperson noted Mr Mangcu’s observations, and asked what the final considerations should be.

The Committee Secretary clarified that Members had been asked to make their final observations and additional considerations by Thursday last week. These final considerations had been included in the current draft report and were colour-coded according to the respective Members’ contributions. She said that Members had had sufficient time to submit their recommendations, and the Committee should agree on the recommendations that were included in the current draft before adopting the report.

The Chairperson noted the Secretary’s response, and asked whether Members accepted the recommendations.

Adoption of draft report

Mr Hunsinger moved the adoption of the draft report with the relevant amendments and recommendations.

The Secretary said it was imperative that the Committee agree on the observations and recommendations before adopting the report.

The Chairperson noted the Secretary’s recommendation, and asked for a seconder.

Mr McDonald endorsed the motion to adopt the draft report with the relevant observations and amendments.

Mr Hunsinger said it was unanimous that the Committee agreed on the recommendations, but dissented that the recommendations still had to be crafted -- more specifically, that the Committee should first consider which of the recommendations were most representative of the Committee’s views, and craft its report accordingly.

The Chairperson noted Mr Hunsinger’s recommendations, and asked for further considerations on the matter.

Mr K Sithole (IFP) asked for confirmation that the current draft report in discussion was not included in the Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR).

The Chairperson asked the Secretary to provide clarity on the matter.

The Secretary responded that the BRRR of this Committee had already been adopted and included in Parliament’s audit paper on the annual performance plan.

Mr Sithole asked when the Committee would present this report to Parliament.

The Secretary responded that in a non-election year, the strategic planning and annual performance plan were concluded in March. However, 2019 was an election year and due to election campaigns, the strategic planning and annual performance plans had been tabled only in July. She said that when the reports are tabled they are brought to the committees for consideration, and the committees are required to make recommendations and amendments as they see fit. There was no deadline for the conclusion of the current report, but 2020 was a non-election year and the Committee would be expected to finalise this process by March.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Sithole for his question, as it provided a better understanding of the matter.

Mr Mangcu asked the Chairperson to amend the first point, to better reflect the Committee’s recommendations.

The Chairperson noted Mr Mangcu’s request, and directed the Committee to the adoption of the previous meeting’s minutes.

Adoption of Minutes

Mr Hunsinger said the proposal he had had made on addressing the issue of not having a Committee standpoint relating to the entities the Members engaged with, was not reflected in the minutes. The Committee had accepted his proposal for a debriefing session in this regard, and he requested that it be recorded.

The Chairperson noted the importance of Mr Hunsinger’s request, and said that it had to be recorded.

Mr McDonald moved the adoption of the minutes, as amended according to Mr Hunsinger’s request.

Mr Sithole seconded the motion.

The Chairperson said that the Committee followed the Parliamentary Committee standard of minute-taking that prohibited verbatim minutes. This meant that the minutes did not reflect who said what, but rather provided a general overview of the issues addressed in the meeting. This standard had been adopted to prevent disputes on the minutes, to allow for a more efficient use of Committee meeting time. According to the rules, the minutes had to be made available to Members within three days.

Mr Hunsinger responded that the DA disagreed with the current standard, as it lacked detail and was a diluted representation of the Committee’s meetings. It should be the prerogative of the Committee and the Chairperson to decide on the format and content of the minutes. He considered it detrimental to the work of the Committee to have a diluted form of minutes.

The Chairperson noted the DA’s position, and said that the various committee chairpersons were meeting at 13h00 to discuss committee matters. He would investigate the matter further at the meeting.

Rugby World Cup

The Chairperson officially congratulated the Springboks on their World Cup victory, and urged Members to focus on the things that unite the nation, echoing the words of the President.

The meeting was adjourned.