Chairperson, the Select Committee on Security and Justice, having deliberated on and considered the subject of the
Defence Amendment Bill, B18 of 2017, a National Assembly section 75 Bill, referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, ... [Interjections.]
Okay, what is the point of order? Hon Mateme, please take your seat.
Chair, we are here to record the Division, isn't it?
Okay!
Procedurally, we can't go to another order. Let's conclude the Division on the last order, so that the status of that Division is recorded.
Thank you very much, hon Nzimande. Rule 66 guides us about the procedure for Division:
A division takes place in accordance with the following procedure:
a) The officer presiding must order the bells to be rung and, after the bells have rung for three minutes, order the doors to the floor of the Chamber to be locked. b) When the doors have been locked, no member is allowed to enter or leave the Chamber until the result of the division has been declared.
So what happened now is that those people who called for a Division did not come back to the Council; hence we are proceeding with the work of the day. It is only one member who returned, which did not even call the Division. So, can we please continue, hon members? The hon Zwane!
Chairperson, I seek further clarity: What is the status of the voting process that we engaged in? [Interjections.]
Okay! The status remains; we are not going to change anything: Thirty members voted for the Bill to be adopted; and then four members voted against. So, we continue! The hon member, Mateme!
The Select Committee on Security and Justice, having deliberated on and considered the subject of the Defence Amendment
Bill, B18 of 2017, a National Assembly section 75 Bill, referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, as a section 75 Bill, reports that it has agreed to the Bill with proposed amendments. The rest of this report has appeared on the Announcements, Tablings and Committee reports annexure, ATC; allow me to go to the recommendations and conclusion.
The committee considers that the Bill, with the amendment as proposed by the Department of Defence, is important in ensuring the effective functioning of the department and that the Bill will go a long way in aligning the Defence Act of 2002 with current organisational requirements that will enhance the efficiency of the Department of Defence. The Select Committee on Security and Justice, having considered the Bill, recommends that the Council approves the Bill with the amendment. We so present! [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
There were no declarations from political parties.
Voting:
Manual counting of votes was held.
Thank you very much. Do we have those who voted against? We don't even have those who abstained. Thank you very much. Thirty members voted in favour. So, the Bill is ... [Interjections.]
Chairperson, can you help me understand: Does that mean the Council is unanimous? [Laughter.]
Yes, hon chairperson! So, the Bill is agreed to.
Bill, subject to proposed amendment, agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution