Chair, the Draft Disaster Management Volunteer Regulations and Explanatory Memorandum on the Object of the Regulations are regulations that exist in terms of section 59 of the Disaster Management Act, Act 57 of 2002, which deals with the establishment of a unit of volunteers to participate in disaster management in a municipal area.
The regulations empower the Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in case of a disaster, whether man-made or natural. The allowance is to bring in volunteers to an area hit by a disaster. The observation of the committee is that it is satisfied, and the inputs were consolidated. Therefore, the committee makes a recommendation to the House to approve that the regulations and memorandum be made effective.
The Draft Regulations on the Participation of Municipal Staff Members as Candidates for National, Provincial and Municipal Elections are in terms of section 71(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, as amended in 2008. This provision of the Act empowers the Minister to prescribe limits and conditions in the form of regulations for all municipal staff members who, during the election period, stand to be elected to public office. In terms of these proposed regulations, a municipal staff member will be deemed to have resigned from his or her employment from the date of occupation, on a full-time basis, of the designated public office, either in the national Parliament, provincial legislature or municipal council. The observation of the committee is that the regulations make the election impartial. Therefore the committee agrees and recommends the regulations to this House for approval, because they are important. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report on Draft Disaster Management Volunteer Regulations and Explanatory Memorandum on Objects of the Regulations be adopted.
Order! I shall now put the question in respect of the Third Order. The question is that the report be adopted.
In accordance with Rule 71, I shall allow the provinces the opportunity to make their declaration of vote if they so wish. Is there any province that wishes to do so?
Chairperson ...
Yes, Mr Bloem.
Is there no time for declarations?
But I just said so.
It's a short one, Chairperson.
Do you want to make a declaration?
Yes, please, sir.
Continue. [Interjections.]
The question is why did the ... [Interjections.]
Order, order, Mr Bloem! Yes, hon Chief Whip.
Chairperson, on a point of order: Can we check whether hon Bloem is going to make that declaration on behalf of the Free State and whether he has a mandate from the Free State province to do so?
Oh, yes. By the way, thank you for that correction.
The Free State gave me the permission, Chair. [Interjections.] It's a question ... I'll change it to a question then.
Let me just check with the head of the delegation. Does Mr Bloem have a mandate for that? [Interjections.] You do not have a mandate. Unfortunately, it is a provincial issue, a section 65 matter.
It was just a small question, Chair.
We now proceed to the voting. When I call the name of the province, the delegation head will vote by pressing button four for those who vote in favour, button two for those who vote against, and button three for those who abstain.
Have all provinces voted? If you have made a mistake, you have a chance to correct your voting. The voting is closed. I will call on the staff to give me the results. All nine provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Draft Disaster Management Volunteer Regulations and Explanatory Memorandum on Objects of the Regulations accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Draft Regulations on Participation of Municipal Staff Members as Candidates for National, Provincial and Municipal Elections be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Draft Regulations on Participation of Municipal Staff members as Candidates for National, Provincial and Municipal Elections accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.