1. Background In terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 as well as Parliamentary Rules, the Portfolio Committee of Human Settlements (the Committee) has a responsibility to conduct oversight over any executive organ of State that falls within its portfolio. The Committee agreed to visit Gauteng province in order to receive a proper presentation from the provincial Department of Local Government and Housing on issues around the demolition of houses in Lenasia. The Committee had heard about the demolition of houses from the media and therefore had to receive first- hand information from the provincial department.