National Council of Provinces - 19 March 2008
WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2008 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
____
The Council met at 14:04.
The Acting Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – see col 000.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): I would like to welcome the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa to the House today. Thank you, Deputy President, for being here with us. You are welcome. I have been informed that the Whippery has agreed that there will be no notices of motion or motions without notice today, except for the motion printed on the Order Paper.
NO MOTIONS
We will now proceed with the questions as printed on the Question Paper and, before we proceed, I wish to inform you that the time for asking supplementary questions to the Deputy President will be two minutes, time for replying to supplementary questions will be four minutes, and only four supplementary questions will be allowed per question.
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Cabinet discussion on impact of rising fuel prices
- Mrs A N D Qikani (UDM) asked the Deputy President:
Whether Cabinet has discussed the impact of rising fuel prices, with
particular reference to the impact on household expenditure for the
working class and the poor in terms of rising transport and food costs;
if not, why not; if so, what recommendations were considered to (a)
provide relief to such households in the short term and (b) revamp the
regressive taxes and over-regulated industrial scheme that underpins
fuel prices at present?
CO1046E
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Madam Acting Chair, the question is on the rising cost of fuel prices, as well as household expenditure and its impact on working-class people.
Hon members, Cabinet members have been discussing the impact of rising food and transport costs on household budgets in the context the recently released Income and Expenditure Survey 2005-06 of Statistics South Africa. More recently, the issue of rising food prices was also discussed – even today – by Cabinet at length. The survey that was conducted by Statistics South Africa shows that, for the bottom four income deciles, food accounts for about 30% of household expenditure and transport for 11%. This means that over 40% of the household expenditure of the poorest 40% of the population is spent on transport and food, a figure which is clearly very high.
Any increase in the prices of these goods has always been a concern to government. After the steep increases in food prices in 2001-02, hon members will remember that government formed a food price monitoring committee to look into this matter and to monitor any untoward behaviour. This monitoring committee reports to the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, who has the responsibility to apprise Cabinet on these issues.
In the light of the current situation, we have, therefore, asked the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs to engage in further consultations so that it can make recommendations to Cabinet about possible interventions. At that time, hon members, we will hear about the announcement when the Minister or Cabinet makes it.
On the question of pricing of liquid fuels, I would like to remind the House that the government restructured the pricing of liquid fuels in 2003 with the introduction of the basic fuel price formula. It is estimated that this pricing formula has saved motorists over R1 billion per annum since its introduction. The fuel tax has had a relatively small impact on the recent price increase because, as hon Basil Douglas would know, that is a very small percentage of the petrol price.
The tax also has a social role in that it internalises some of the social costs of using liquid fuel-driven vehicles. However, as fuel prices are determined internationally and we import the majority of our liquid fuels, we do not have a great deal of control and leverage that could really help us reduce the impact on the consumers.
Let me assure the hon member that we are closely monitoring all the economic indicators. Our quest for higher rates of growth called upon us to balance the macroeconomic imperatives with the sustained fight against poverty. But we must also be realistic. There are a number of variables that fall outside our control as the South African government and, indeed, the people of the Republic. Thank you.
Number of youths trained through Jipsa, and criteria used to identify them
- Ms H F Matlanyane (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
(1) What (a) is the total number of youths receiving training
through the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition,
Jipsa, in each province and (b) are the criteria used to
identify young people that are allocated to the programme;
(2) whether such criteria take into consideration young people in
rural and farm areas; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details? CO1061E
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Acting Chairperson and hon member for this question that deals with the issue of skills and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition, Jipsa. To respond appropriately to this question raised by the hon Matlanyane, I just need, again, to restate that Jipsa is a specific initiative within government’s wider Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, Asgisa.
Jipsa is a very small part of the work that government does in education. It is aimed at addressing the issue of binding constraints, in particular the issue of the shortage of critical skills. So, it doesn’t deal with all the skills nor does it deal with all the aspects of education. It deals with these in relation to those skills that are more directly needed for growth.
In the interim and with the high skills demand in the country, we have undertaken various initiatives to increase the access to these skills to young people and, in particular, to ensure that they can access high quality skills. One of the biggest initiatives in this regard that we have supported with the Department of Education, which is leading that initiative, is the transformation and the recapitalisation of the Further Education and Training, FET, sector. The work that was done by Jipsa together with the Department of Education showed that there was a significant need for skills that the FETs can provide.
So, there has been a positive response on the part of government. Many of you are aware of FET colleges in the areas that you live in. There’s also a bursary scheme of R600 million over a three-year period, which will also, for the first time, enable those young people who go to FET colleges to also have access to our bursary scheme.
The latest Department of Labour figures also reflect that there has been an increase in the training of artisans. As you know, again, in Asgisa, we identified artisanal skills as crucial skills.
In the year 2007-08, a service level agreement that was signed between the various Sector Education and Training Authorities or Setas, and the Department of Labour reflected that there were 18 879 artisans that were to be registered for training. We expect that number to grow because more Setas have come on board and we hope that between 2008 and 2009 the figure will reach 20 000. We have been able to put a lot of pressure on and generate encouragement for greater support for this type of training, as required in Jipsa and Asgisa. We have also been able to point out what the barriers to training and producing artisans are in South Africa, and that has led to the amendment of the law, which will ensure that we can produce artisans in South Africa through different means, such as learnerships, FETs, apprenticeships in the workplace and the training that can be supported by employers of unemployed people. That is how we are going to see an increase.
I must also say that there are certain provinces, as well as companies that have gone out of their way to do their own training. We don’t necessarily have those figures but we encourage them to do that. One such province would be the Western Cape. The business commitment to supporting the training of artisans, technicians and technologists and to provide workplace experience to those who are not yet in employment is also a clear undertaking that has arisen out of the work of Jipsa.
This initiative is led by Business Leadership SA at a chief executive officer level and they are committing themselves by taking on the issue of human capital at a strategic level within each company in the same way that they view finance, information technology, IT, etc., so that the person responsible for human resources in a company is not someone who is sitting there in the corner. The CEO of a company also has to answer on the human resources development. This has happened because we have brought the CEOs into Jipsa and we requested them to make some commitments. They have a five- year plan and I think at the beginning of the year when the report is available, we will share with you the report of the impact that they would be making.
We have also undertaken training in Jipsa through the placement programme. In that regard we take on unemployed graduates or recently graduated students as well as mid-level career professionals. The aim there is to fast-track experience acquisition. I must say that a number of companies have come on board and offered us the opportunity for placement in a programme that is being co-ordinated by the Independent Development Trust, IDT, and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. For example, 80 accounting trainees, between 2006 and 2008, have been taken on board by KPMG.
Now, many of these are rural, young people who are unemployed with BCom or finance-related degrees who then end up as waiters. The fact that some of them are going to end up as accountants and chartered accountants, CAs, is something that is very encouraging, and, of course, this company has also advertised to take more trainees in the programme that they call the KPMG Growth Acceleration Programme.
We’ve also been advertising in the press and the City Press in particular has played a very important role in assisting us to advertise. We have worked with the provinces to recruit some of these young people so that we can spread the benefits throughout the country, because we have noticed that the rural students are not coming on board. Limpopo in particular has been very active in assisting us to recruit students from that province.
As we speak, for instance, we have just sent young graduates to the Netherlands for various kinds of training and different types of skills acquisition, all of which are scarce skills. We’ve graduates in India mainly in the information and communication technology, ICT, sector but also in the engineering and built environment spread across all corners of India. I must also highlight the fact that we also faced challenges because many of these students find themselves all by themselves in one corner of that very big country. Sometimes they get homesick and it can get very complicated. We’ve had a total of three students who had to come back because they just couldn’t cope, but the majority of the students – of which there are now almost 1000 - have been able to settle very well and they have begun to come back because they have completed their training.
So, there’s a total number of 20 000 young graduates who have been placed nationally and internationally through this programme. The companies such as Microsoft, Eskom and Shoprite here at home and computer companies, such as Satyam in India, have taken these young people under their wing and, of course, the latest group is the one that has gone to the Netherlands.
The Department of Public Service and Administration, DPSA, has also done excellent work in relation to municipalities and they have been placing, in particular, experienced and retired persons to support and mentor young professionals and assist the municipalities with their delivery. They are now placed in 101 municipalities, which makes it a total of 118 professionals and experts.
We are also continuing with the work of removing some of the obstacles to training, which include taking some of our recruitment programmes to the rural areas. The numbers are not yet satisfactory but we are very much conscious of that. Some of the areas – for your information, hon members – that we are going to be focusing on, as per our priorities in Asgisa in addition to artisans and engineers, would include, for instance, planners in municipalities and ensuring that we have an appropriate curriculum to train people in those skills. We are focusing on teachers, especially the ICT, language, maths and science teachers. We are also focusing on health personnel, especially health managers.
These programmes are unfolding and when we have figures on the intake, we would also be in a position to apprise you. However, I must emphasise that the numbers do not depend on what we do and push for, as the Jipsa Secretariat; it depends on us encouraging other people to do the training, and some people have never even come back to tell us what they have been able to do and successes that they have had. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr T S Setona): Acting Chairperson and hon Deputy President, my supplementary question is on the allocation of the R600 million for the bursaries, funded over three years. According to my observations, there seems to be a general lack of knowledge and information on the part of learners who are supposed to be accessing these bursaries in terms of where they are and how they can apply. Now, I want to check whether any integrated strategy is being used by government, in particular through the Department of Education, to communicate information about these bursaries to our learners in their respective schools. Thank you.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Acting Chairperson and hon member, yes, the Department of Education does advertise and share information but I’m sure we can always do much more than we are doing now. Generally, students always know where to find money and who has the money, but it is also true that first-year students who may be outside the tertiary institutions may not know where to start. So, clearly, part of our advertising strategy has got to be at a high school level so that, when they pass, they know exactly where to apply and I will carry that message back to the department.
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Acting Chairperson and hon Deputy President, my follow- up question will be as follows: I’m satisfied that our approach in dealing with issues of the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition, Jipsa, assumes a national character and, of course, Deputy President, it takes all of us in this House and all of us as members to ensure that the spirit of the people’s contract that the ANC has committed itself to in ensuring that we participate in this type of initiative is carried forward, and that we ensure that the programme is a success. It is also the responsibility of all the members to ensure that this becomes a success more especially for those of us who are coming from the rural areas. I thank you very much and I would request the Acting Chairperson that the answers be forwarded in writing to me.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): So, you don’t need to respond, hon Deputy President. You may do it in writing.
Bias in allocation of resources towards areas and provinces with
presidential nodal points
- Ms H F Matlanyane (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
Whether there are any indications of bias in the allocation of
resources towards areas and provinces that have presidential nodal
points in order to meet their service delivery needs; if so, (a) what
are the relevant details of the allocation to be made to the Sekhukhune
region and (b) when will such allocation be made?
CO1062E
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon Chairperson, again this question is from hon Matlanyane. Hon member, as you might be aware, the nodal points were selected in 2001, on the basis of having a higher-than-average poverty level in the country.
In the case of the rural nodes, the nodal programme was targeted at district level. It should be noted that the local municipalities within these districts are among the most underresourced councils compared to the rest; I think they were at the time, because we have now improved their resources. Some of these municipalities are also amongst the youngest institutions to be established after the local government demarcation process.
National sector departments have indicated in their business plans how they plan to contribute towards the broader development of nodal points. Since 2003, there has been an increase in the number of departments that have indicated their support and contribution to the nodes. At national level, we use the cluster system to encourage integrated planning, co-ordination and monitoring as well as implementation within a node.
As a mechanism to boost our support to these areas, nodal municipalities receive an additional 5% of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocation by virtue of being nodes.
So, in addition to all the departments co-ordinating for delivery in these nodes, nodes also get an additional 5% of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant. The 5% allocation for the 2008-09 financial year is estimated at R433 million. Furthermore, the bias towards the nodes is clearly demonstrated in the institutional mechanisms that have been set up to provide support to the nodes in a way that perhaps other programmes may not have.
The Integrated Strategy for Rural Development and the integrated development plans are also supported by what we call “political and technical champions”, who are national Ministers, provincial MECs, mayors and municipal managers. These ensure that there is a way of rallying the three spheres of government around a node in pursuit of a common agenda.
At provincial level, there is the premiers’ planning forum, which is a technical structure consisting of representatives of all sector departments and the Premiers Co-ordinating Forum - a political structure consisting of MECs and mayors. In the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces, they have even established strong interdepartmental task teams consisting of these sector departments.
In addition to the establishment of these intergovernmental co-ordinating mechanisms, the nodes have witnessed the involvement of Business Trust, which brings together representatives of the private sector as partners. Also involved is the Independent Development Trust, which has been there for quite some time. Of course, there are also the international development agencies, such as the GTZ, which has offered critical support in these areas, as indicated.
Not many other programmes have enjoyed such support and bias. However, one might ask: What are the results of our involvement in the nodes? Evidence is abundant. For example, there has been an increased awareness on the part of people about where and how to access government services in the nodes. There is also greater participation in the different stakeholder forums that address issues of development.
Several studies and community engagement sessions conducted in the nodal areas in the current financial year have come to the same conclusion, even with the uptake in the delivery of service, that there is an improvement in both service delivery and the lives of the citizens living in the nodes. This does not mean that they are in a better position than other rural areas, but, clearly, if we had not made this concerted effort, they would have been even worse off.
In the case of the rural nodes, more than 2 913 households have benefited from services provided by the MIG funding in the six nodes that were part of the study. Of course, I have a lot of figures here. I think I will treble the time it requires to answer the question if I were to read all of them. So, I will just submit the figures for the benefit of hon members.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is responsible for the implementation of sanitation, water, rudimentary and bulk schemes, bulk scheme refurbishment, fire prevention, and forestry and water resource improvement projects in the respective nodes. Of course, the same is being done by the Minerals and Energy department. In all of this the Department of Provincial and Local Government is a co-ordinator.
Actually, you’ll find that, in the nodes, universal access to some of the basic services is higher, and therefore there’s a good chance that we’ll reach universal service much earlier in these areas than in the others.
The hon member also wanted to know exactly what was happening in Sekhukhune. Up to 30 September 2006, there were 75 housing projects in Sekhukhune, comprising 26 429 planned units. The approved projects will now benefit 17 069 people. The total budget for the project was R601 449 … I can’t read this figure.
The school nutrition programme, also in this particular node, has increased quite significantly, but the same has also happened in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and North West.
In the Sekhukhune area, in particular, the schools have benefited quite significantly. There are 669 schools that have benefited 221 110 learners. In all the rural nodes, between 2005 and 2006, the number of people who received social grants increased by 13%. Again, this is also quite significant. There is a report here from the Premier of Limpopo, which gives a breakdown of what has happened in the Sekhukhune area. I think that the figures are just too much for me to read, so I’d like to table the document.
As you can see, hon member, the document is quite thick. However, it gives you a lot of details about the Sekhukhune area. I can see that the hon member has quite an interest in and is passionate about that constituency. However, needless to say, it still remains a poor area, and we have to continue to do the work there.
Another impressive intervention in relation to the nodes has been the work of CDWs, that is, the community development workers. We have been able to meet our target of deploying 10 CDWs per municipality in the nodal areas, and we are beginning to see the impact of these CDWs. Thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr T S Setona): Chairperson, I thank the hon Deputy President for the reply. I would like to check whether we have timeframes, or are these areas going to be nodal points forever? Are there timeframes and key performance indicators, on the basis of which, at some point in our evolving democracy, we will be able to say that we have achieved what we set out to achieve through these development initiatives in the nodal points? Thank you. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: This is a difficult question, hon member. It’s like asking when we will end affirmative action. As long as these communities remain significantly disadvantaged, you cannot really pull out of them. However, I think that some of the key performance indicators would be the national indicators.
For instance, when there’s universal access to water, universal access to electricity, when we have improved significantly the condition of the roads, and so on, in accordance with and in line with the national targets, then we would have brought these nodes to the same level as other areas that we are developing throughout the country. So, it’s difficult to put timeframes on this because, as I’m saying, it’s just like the affirmative action argument.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr T S Setona): Chairperson, maybe I should contextualise my question. I accept your explanation, hon Deputy President. One of the reasons we had blazing fires in the Harrismith area, which is closer to the Phuthaditjhaba and Qwaqwa areas in the Free State, is that people in that area - as well as in Bethlehem - felt that government no longer cared about them. They felt that all resources were being taken to the nodal points. So, I’m raising this question in that particular context.
I do believe that, at some point in our history, we will arrive at a point where we will say, we have reached equity, and we can no longer talk about affirmative action. So that is the context in which I asked the question.
I would like to hear your comment on this question, because it is a sensitive issue there.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, I agree with the hon member. We have to make sure that, as we support the poorest of the poor, we do not disadvantage other people who may not be as poor, but, clearly, also have a quality of life that is unenviable.
There are a lot of judgment calls that have to be made by the political and senior officials in those particular communities. To the extent that you are raising an issue about the Free State, I think the challenge would be to sensitise and to engage the leadership in the Free State, to make sure that we are not understood and seen to be favouring one community over the other. Definitely, that is not an intended outcome.
Government’s involvement in verifying South African companies’ compliance with BEE and employment equity policies
- Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
Whether the Government has been involved in any exercise of verifying
South African companies for their compliance with the black economic
empowerment, BEE, and employment equity policies; if not, why not; if
so, (a) what is the level of compliance by companies and (b) what was
the annual percentage increase and/or decrease in the participation of
(i) black women, (ii) the youth and (iii) persons with disabilities in
senior management structures in the past four years?
CO1063E
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, this question is from the Chief Whip, who is no longer brand new, the hon Ntwanambi.
The Department of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with the Presidency and the Presidential Black Business Working Group, prepared a Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment or BBBEE progress report in 2007. This baseline national survey was designed to verify compliance with the implementation of Broad-based Economic Empowerment or BEE in the economy. The report was the first initiative that government undertook for the verification of BBBEE compliance since the gazetting of the Codes of Good Practice in February 2007. The verification of compliance is to be carried out on an annual basis and it will be located within the soon-to-be established presidential advisory council. This is the intention as we go forward.
But, with regard to reports that have already been issued, compliance in relation to issues of equity and ownership ranges from 30 to 40 points out of a total of 100 points. Relatively speaking, in terms of the other points, you could say this is better, even though it is still below 50%. Therefore, we have to be concerned. Performance with regard to employment equity is even less impressive. According to the Department of Labour, the proportion of black people in senior, middle and junior management positions stands at 36,7%. With respect to executive management, including white women, compliance is at 32,4%.
Even more disappointing, according to the Department of Labour’s Commission for Employment Equity Report of 2006-07, black females at top management level represent only 6,6%; at senior management, they represent only 8%; at middle management, they represent 13,8% and, at lower management, they represent 14,1%. At top management level, disabled people represent only 1,4%; at senior management, representation is as small as 0,7%, and at middle management they represent 0,5%. The youth are assumed to be beneficiaries of middle and junior management development since these levels present entry points and upward movement opportunities for younger members of our labour market who are likely to be relatively more educated than the older people. The numbers are, however, unknown because measurement by age group has not been done.
Another study that was commissioned by the President in 2006 showed that the private sector largely supports the development of the youth and people with disability through employment equity and skills development. This trend is being monitored for growth and the quality of outcome. The figures provided in the survey only cover the recent period - 2006 and 2007. Most statistics reflecting previous years are not reliable and therefore we couldn’t use them.
Government is under no illusion that all is well in this area. We need to do more work. We also know that this is very much a contested area and that we also experience tokenism, fronting, etc. Therefore, we need to make sure that we win companies over so that, when they implement this, they really do their best, and not just do it so that they can get us out of their faces. Thank you.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Deputy President, I know you have a passion for this one, and that is why I will do a follow-up question.
Empowerdex, which is one of the reputable research organisations on black economic empowerment compliance in our country that compiles data on BEE, indicates that although there has been much progress on women representation in government, women in the private sector are still faced with major challenges, and the private sector has not shown any real signs of transformation in terms of gender. This is also reflected in terms of salaries and the gender pay gap across government and business, which is 24,6%. This puts this country at the less transformed end of the scale with Paraguay and reasserts that the private sector is still a male-dominated terrain.
Persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, are the most disadvantaged. Therefore, Deputy President, what measures does government intend to put in place to ensure that this issue is indeed addressed, because, clearly, I know you can’t simply monitor compliance and do nothing?
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Hon member, as you are aware, there is a scorecard that has been adopted by DTI that introduces, amongst others, sanctions for companies for noncompliance. So, it is through that scorecard that we are actually going to monitor compliance. But I even think that a certain degree of activism on our part is actually quite important. Many companies do not like to be put in the public light as being underperforming or untransformed and nonprogressive.
The issue of gender pay parity is of even greater concern. This is actually denying women equal pay for equal work. It is a human rights issue. I think we should look at different ways of engaging in it. The hon member would be aware that we are also looking at the functioning of our gender machinery with the aim of strengthening it so that we do not only depend on what we can do with the codes. In general we also should have the population as well as gender activists take up these issues. We have more and more organised women in business. We hope that they will also be able to assist us.
This is the same on the issue of persons with disability. We have, in fact, been asked to look at how we can actually strengthen the policy as it stands with regard to people with disability. Based on what we have done up to thus far, we all feel that we have underperformed. Government feels we have underperformed. We have pockets of good performance. For instance, Limpopo is one province that has done very well. But, in general, we don’t think that we are doing very well. So, we are looking at different measures and we have asked hon members to also contribute.
I have also noted that there are certain areas in the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition where it is easier to recruit, for instance, people with disabilities. Therefore, we will try to have a bias towards people with disabilities in those areas and hope that we will increase the uptake and the numbers of people we can bring in.
I have to say to the members that, recently, I went to visit a school for deaf children. The school starts from Grade R and goes up to Grade 12. One of the things I found quite remarkable about the school was, firstly, the passion and the commitment of the teachers and the fact that for those children to acquire those skills, they go through so much. For us not to employ them at the end when they exit school is quite discouraging, even to the teachers who have put in so much time. What was even more disturbing was to see that a significant number of the children had more than one disability. This means that the fact that they are there at school with more than one disability and are progressing is a reflection of the effort that is put into that by us as a society. Therefore, we have a responsibility to give them a chance once they have completed their schooling. Thank you.
Mr D D GAMEDE: Thank you, Deputy Chair and hon Deputy President. This is just a follow-up on the issue of disability equity. How do we enforce the implementation of disability equity as government departments as opposed to the private sector? It might be a little bit of a challenge in the private sector. We, as government departments, are the ones who make these laws and are supposed to implement them. How do we really monitor that and actually enforce that? Thanks.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I think we do need some sanctions, sanctions that will ensure that if people cannot even demonstrate that they have made an effort, then there should be some consequences for the lack of effort. But we also have to encourage and reward those who have excelled so that we are not only punitive, but also contribute towards giving people incentives for people to do better.
In the process of revising the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, we came across a lot of issues – including the fact that we just need to balance punitive measures and incentives in order to make sure that we increase the uptake. So, I would say, in short, that we do need some sanctions, even in government.
Mr W M DOUGLAS: Chairperson and hon Deputy President, I would like to know whether government has identified, through its verification processes, continued discrimination against specifically the coloured population? This is a prevailing perception in my constituency of various companies and their HR employment practices, as well as a growing problem in corporate South Africa. If you have not, why not; and if so, what is being done to rectify the problem or to correct the perception within the communities? Thank you.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, firstly, this is not a follow-up question, hon member, but I think the question is important. We need you to help us correct that perception, because it is not accurate. There is nothing like that. If people cannot produce facts attesting to that … In fact, the figures speak for themselves. If you just go to the statistics on employment equity, you’ll see that the people that are at the bottom of the pile are African women – period. So there is nothing like a number to tell the truth, but this is an important sector of our community, so you need to help us to engage with them, especially if you are a leader there, because it is your constituency. So it’s you and me, member.
Monitoring by the Presidency of the implementation of preferential
procurement policy and legislation 5. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the Presidency has been monitoring the implementation of
the preferential procurement policy and legislation by all
spheres of government in so far as it should benefit women, the
youth and people with disabilities; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details for the past financial year;
(2) whether she will make a statement on the matter? CO1064E
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, this is again a question from the hon Chief Whip. In 2002, government promulgated the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act. The Act gives effect to section 217 2(b) of the Constitution, which is intended to ensure that the procurement of goods and services by government leads to the protection and advancement of vulnerable and previously disadvantaged persons. The Act thus obligates all spheres of government to pursue empowerment of such persons through implementation of preferential procurement policies.
The measures that we have used to follow up and to evaluate are not accurate to enable us to generate the reliable information that the member may be seeking. It must also be stated that effective monitoring can only succeed once the disparate financial systems across national and provincial governments are integrated into a single system. We still have that discord that we don’t have one system, so my answer will not give you what you could regard as a scientific answer, but it gives you an approximation.
There are some positive developments. For example, in 2004, the National Treasury did develop an electronic reporting mechanism to capture details in all contracts in excess of R100 000 awarded by national departments. The information captured in the attached schedule, which will be tabled, has been extracted from the database for each of the last four financial years and provides the following information from the total value of contracts awarded to total value of contracts awarded to black people, that is, the businesses that are owned by those people. It must also be noted that information is therefore based on unaudited figures, so you must then take it with a pinch of salt, even though it does give you an indication. The values are in respect of contracts awarded and not actual expenditure on the contracts. The statistics also exclude Information and Communication Technology, ICT, contracts awarded by the State Information Technology Agency, Sita, because they account outside this framework.
I have attached some figures for you, but as I said, you wanted to know if we are doing that. We are doing it, but it is not perfect. Once we have finished the integration and once the civil service process has been completed, then we will be in a better position to evaluate all of this. Thank you. The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Chairperson and Deputy President, one of the biggest challenges that South Africa is facing is the fronting of black economic empowerment, BEE, companies, which mostly affects people in the provinces and municipalities. This makes it necessary to ensure that any contract obtained through fronting should be considered to have been fraudulently acquired and punishable by law. However, if we do not have proper structures that will evaluate and assess all government procurement transactions, we will not be able to address this problem. Therefore, Deputy President, what measures has government put in place to do quality control of all its procurement transactions in order to eliminate the problem of fronting, particularly in our provinces and municipalities, where our people are used by people that should not benefit from our preferential procurement policies, who get millions of rands for the deals and pay people peanuts? Thank you.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, hon member, even though the monitoring is not perfect at this point in time, it does not mean that we cannot detect and act on fronting. We do not exactly have a law on fronting, but if people obtain a contract through false representation, the normal law has to take its course, because misrepresentation of information is misrepresentation of information, regardless. That includes disqualification, blacklisting by the department and, in some cases, we can also institute a penalty, but we do not have a law that is specific on that. In the codes, it is much tighter. In the black economic empowerment codes, because we are trying to have clarity for ourselves and for the companies about how you assign points to a company, one of the culprits that would need to be punished is even the company that is awarding the points, because then it will not get the points that it is supposed to have gotten if it had complied with the BEE requirements.
You may be aware, hon member, that the Act is being amended. It is going to come back and I think these are some of the areas that you would also need to pay attention to to make sure that we have addressed that as well in the amending Act.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr T S Setona): Chairperson and hon Deputy President, I am quite sure you are aware of a claim within the public domain by the Black Management Forum that this Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act that we have is actually impacting negatively on what it is supposed to produce. They argue that it actually excludes the very historically disadvantaged individuals that it is intended to affirm within the mainstream economy.
Leaving the Black Management Forum, when you go to izimbizo and you meet in public hearings, quite a number of emerging businesspeople in our own communities are actually making some of these claims. Therefore, my question would be: Isn’t is appropriate that, at some point, we need to pause and do an impact study on this particular legislation and other related legislation such as like your Construction Industry Development Board, so that we have a scientific grasp of the impact on our communities? Thank you very much.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Chairperson, yes, hon member, that is why we are now also amending the Act. Its purpose is to respond to some of those issues, some of which have also been raised by ourselves. The concern there is really that the points that are awarded for price and other requirements are much more substantive than the points you get for complying with BEE. The tension there, however, which we must watch, is how you achieve a balance, ensuring that you have an economy that does not inflate the price and therefore make BEE much more expensive to government and to the economy but, at the same time, you also bring people in. That is why, in some cases, we encourage joint ventures, because I would suppose that when black people put their prices up, it is because they do not enjoy economies of scale, so they are unable absorb the losses in the way in which the big companies can.
There is something bigger in the economy that needs to happen in order for us to achieve a balance. We don’t want to precipitate inflation in the economy, and high costs of products, which are already very high. If you take construction, for instance, the cost of capital goods in construction is getting higher and higher, so we don’t want to price it higher, but that must not mean that we are punishing black people. I don’t claim to have the answer. I think that, through the amendment, we are trying to address some of these key imbalances.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Any other follow-up questions to the Deputy President? If there is none, then that concludes the questions to the Deputy President. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy President for participating in the debate and for her comprehensive input to the questions. Thank you very much, hon Deputy President.
See also QUESTIONS AND REPLIES
JOINT PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE
(Draft Resolution)
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M N Oliphant): Acting Chairperson, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Council, I move the draft resolution printed in his name on the Order Paper, as follows:
That the House, noting that Zimbabwe is holding joint presidential and parliamentary elections on 29 March 2008, resolves, subject to the concurrence of the National Assembly, that-
1) the South African Parliament send a 15-member multiparty delegation
to observe these elections;
(2) the delegation form part of the SADC observer mission;
(3) the delegation observe the campaign in the run-up to the elections, the casting of votes and subsequently the counting of the votes; and
(4) the delegation presents the mission’s report to Parliament on its return.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): I shall now put the question. The question is that the motion be agreed to. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all the delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province’s votes. Are all the delegation heads present? Are they all present?
I shall now also allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations in terms of Rule 71 if they so wish. Is there any province wishing to make any declaration of vote? There is obviously none.
We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do this in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour or against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: In favour.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Free State?
Mr C J VAN ROOYEN: In favour.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Gauteng?
Ms N M MADLALA-MAGUBANE: In favour.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): KwaZulu-Natal?
Mr D D GAMEDE: Siyavuma. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Ha yi seketela. [We support it.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Mpumalanga?
Ms M P THEMBA: Mpumalanga supports.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Ondersteun. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): North West?
Rev P MOATSHE: Re a e dumela. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Western Cape?
Mr F ADAMS: Wes-Kaap ondersteun. [Western Cape supports.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): All provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the motion agreed to in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Motion accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF FIRST REPORT OF THE RULES COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL
COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
Order disposed of without debate.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): I shall now put the question. The question is that the report be adopted. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province’s votes. Are all the delegation heads present?
In accordance with Rule 71, I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish.
We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do this in alphabetical order per province. The delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour or against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: Siyayixhasa. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Free State?
Mr C J VAN ROOYEN: In favour.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Gauteng?
Ms N M MADLALA-MAGUBANE: Supports.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): KwaZulu-Natal?
Mr D D GAMEDE: Siyavuma. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Limpopo ya yi seketela. [Limpopo supports it.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Mpumalanga?
Ms M P THEMBA: Supports.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Mpumalanga?
Ms M P THEMBA: I said Mpumalanga supports, Deputy Chairperson.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Ke a rona. [Supports.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): North West?
Rev P MOATSHE: Re a dumela. [We support.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): Western Cape?
Mr F ADAMS: Wes-Kaap ondersteun. [Western Cape supports.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms P M Hollander): All provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Before the next Order, the Secretary will read the Second Order of the day. I’m leaving the Chair now because I’ve got something else to do.
I would like to express our deepest sympathy to the hon Douglas on the passing away of his father, and we hope that he accepts our sympathies. Thank you very much.
CONSIDERATION OF SECOND REPORT OF JOINT RULES COMMITTEE, 2007 - ORDER IN JOINT SITTINGS AND RULES OF DEBATE
Order disposed of without debate.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): I shall now put the question. The question is that the report be adopted. As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution, I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province’s votes. Are all the delegation heads present?
In accordance with Rule 71, I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do this in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour or against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: Siyayixasa. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Free State?
Mr C J VAN ROOYEN: We support.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Gauteng?
Ms N M MADLALA-MAGUBANE: Support.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): KwaZulu-Natal?
Mr D D GAMEDE: Siyavuma. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Limpopo ya yi seketela. [Limpopo supports it.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Mpumalanga?
Ms M P THEMBA: Mpumalanga supports.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Siyavuma. [Supports.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): North West?
Rev P MOATSHE: Re a dumela. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Western Cape?
Mr F ADAMS: Wes-Kaap ondersteun. [Western Cape supports.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): All provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF FIRST REPORT OF JOINT RULES COMMITTEE, 2008 - MULTIPARTY WOMEN’S CAUCUS, LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR BILLS AND JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
Order disposed of without debate.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): I shall now put the question. The question is that the report be adopted.
As the decision is dealt with in terms of section 65 of the Constitution. I shall first ascertain whether all delegation heads are present in the Chamber to cast their province’s votes. Are all the delegation heads present?
In accordance with Rule 71 I shall first allow provinces the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish.
We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. I shall do this in alphabetical order per province. Delegation heads must please indicate to the Chair whether they vote in favour or against or abstain from voting. Eastern Cape?
Ms B N DLULANE: Siyayixhasa. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Free State?
Mr C J VAN ROOYEN: Ondersteun. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Gauteng?
Ms N M MADLALA-MAGUBANE: Supports.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): KwaZulu-Natal?
Mr D D GAMEDE: Siyaxhasa. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Limpopo?
Ms H F MATLANYANE: Ya yi seketela. [Supports it.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M N Oliphant): Mpumalanga?
Ms M P THEMBA: Mpumalanga ondersteun. [Mpumalanga supports.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Northern Cape?
Mr M A SULLIMAN: Noord-Kaap ondersteun. [Northern Cape supports.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): North West?
Rev P MOATSHE: Re a dumela. [We support.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Western Cape?
Mr F ADAMS: Ondersteun. [Supports.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): All provinces voted in favour. I therefore declare the report adopted in terms of section 65 of the Constitution.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
GOOD WISHES FOR EASTER PERIOD
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs M N Oliphant): Hon members, I know that it is our last sitting today. So, you will be leaving for your provinces for the Easter weekend. I just want to say that I wish you well and we must all go to church on the Easter weekend and we must be with our families on Family Day.
The Council adjourned at 15:05. _____
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2008
TABLINGS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
-
The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs
(a) Business Plan of the Agricultural Research Council for 2008-2009 [RP 29-2008].
-
The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development
(a) Report of the South African Law Reform Commission on Domestic Partnerships (Project 118, March 2006) [RP 136-2007].
COMMITTEE REPORTS
National Council of Provinces
- Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on the International Agreement establishing the Africa Institute for the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous and other Waste, dated 18 March 2008:
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the International Agreement establishing the Africa Institute for the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous and other Waste, referred to it, recommends that the Council, in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996, approve the said International Agreement.
Report to be considered.
- Report of the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs on Prohibition or Restriction of Certain Conventional Weapons Bill [B 7B – 2007] (National Assembly – sec 75), dated 11 March 2008, as follows:
The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs, having considered the subject of the Prohibition or Restriction of Certain Conventional Weapons Bill [B 7B – 2007] (National Assembly – sec 75), referred to it, agrees to the Bill with proposed amendments as follows:
CLAUSE 1 1. On page 4, after line 26, to insert the following definition: "non-detectable fragments" means any device or material the primary effect of which is to injure by fragments which in the human body escape detection by X-rays;
-
On page 4, after line 44, to insert the following definition: “prescribed” means prescribed by regulation made under section 15;
CLAUSE 5 -
On page 6, from line 4, to omit “weapon” up to and including “X-rays” in line 5 and to substitute “non-detectable fragments”.
CLAUSE 9 -
On page 7, in line 27, after “8” to insert “or who orders or aids the the contravention thereof”.
CLAUSE 10 - On page 7, in line 33, after “possession” to insert “in the prescribed manner”.
-
On page 7, from line 38, to omit subsection (3) and to substitute: (3)The police official must record the notification contemplated in subsection (1) and immediately arrange for the collection of the prohibited weapon or component part.
CLAUSE 11 -
On page 8, from line 9, to omit paragraph (b) and to substitute: (b) to Parliament before the Minister submits the report contemplated in paragraph (a).
CLAUSE 15 -
On page 8, from line 49, to omit subsection (2) and to substitute: (2)Regulations made by the Minister prescribing the matters stated in section 10(1) must be made after consultation with the Minister for Safety and Security.
-
On page 9, in line 2, to omit “as soon as possible after publication” and to substitute “prior to promulgation”.
CLAUSE 17 -
On page 9, in line 23, to omit “2007” and to substitute “2008”.
WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2008
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
The Speaker and the Chairperson
-
Assent by President in respect of Bills
1) Children’s Amendment Bill [B 19F – 2006] – Act No 41 of 2007 (assented to and signed by President on 13 March 2008).
-
Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159
(1) Taxation Laws Second Amendment Bill, 2008, submitted by the
Minister of Finance. Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Finance
and the Select Committee on Finance.
- Introduction of Bills
(1) The Minister of Finance
(a) Taxation Laws Amendment Bill [B 14 – 2008] (National
Assembly – sec 77)
Introduction in the National Assembly (proposed sec 77) and
referral to the Portfolio Committee on Finance of the National
Assembly, as well as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism
(JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160, on 19
March 2008.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification
of the Bill may be submitted to the JTM within three
parliamentary working days.
(b) Taxation Laws Second Amendment Bill [B 13 – 2008]
(National Assembly – sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and
prior notice of its introduction published in Government
Gazette No 30870 of 14 March 2008].
Introduction in the National Assembly (proposed sec 75) and
referral to the Portfolio Committee on Finance of the National
Assembly, as well as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism
(JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160, on 19
March 2008.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification
of the Bill may be submitted to the JTM within three
parliamentary working days.
National Council of Provinces
The Chairperson
- Message from National Assembly to National Council of Provinces in respect of Bill passed by Assembly and transmitted to Council
(1) Bill passed by National Assembly and transmitted for concurrence
on 19 March 2008:
(a) Cross-Border Road Transport Amendment Bill [B 51B - 2007]
(National Assembly – sec 75).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Public
Services of the National Council of Provinces.
(b) Second-Hand Goods Bill [B 2B - 2008] (National Assembly –
sec 76).
The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Security
and Constitutional Affairs of the National Council of
Provinces.
TABLINGS
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- The Speaker and the Chairperson
(a) Report of the Auditor-General on a performance audit of border
control at the South African Police Service – January 2008 [RP 10-
2008].
- The Minister of Finance
(a) Government Notice No 214 published in Government Gazette No
30794 dated 22 February 2008: Determination of interest rate for
purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition of “official rate of
interest” in paragraph 1 of the Seventh Schedule in terms of the
Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No 58 of 1962).
(b) Government Notice No 216 published in Government Gazette No
30796 dated 22 February 2008: Fixing of rate per kilometre in
respect of motor vehicles in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act
No 58 of 1962).
(c) Government Notice No R.242 published in Government Gazette No
30818 dated 27 February 2008: Amendment of Schedule No 1 (No
1/2/149) in terms of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No 91 of
1964).
(d) Government Notice No R.243 published in Government Gazette No
30818 dated 27 February 2008: Amendment of Schedule No 1 (No
1/5/143) in terms of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No 91 of
1964).
(e) Government Notice No R.244 published in Government Gazette No
30818 dated 27 February 2008: Amendment of Schedule No 1 (No
1/5/144) in terms of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No 91 of
1964).
(f) Government Notice No R.245 published in Government Gazette No
30818 dated 27 February 2008: Amendment of Schedule No 6 (No 6/12)
in terms of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No 91 of 1964).
(g) General Notice No 305 published in Government Gazette No 30805
dated 29 February 2008: Notice on proposed variation of
Policyholder Protection Rules (Short-term Insurance) in terms of
the Short-term Insurance Act, 1998 (Act No 53 of 1998).
(h) Report of the South African Reserve Bank of the annual general
meeting of shareholders for 2007.
-
The Minister of Trade and Industry
(a) Medium Term Strategic Framework of the Department of Trade and Industry for 2008 to 2011.
(b) Government Notice No R.819 published in Government Gazette No 30254 dated 7 September 2007: Proposed amendment of the Compulsory Specification for Vehicles of Category 03 and 04, in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993).
COMMITTEE REPORTS
National Council of Provinces
- Report of the Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs on the National Gambling Amendment Bill (B 31B – 2007), dated 12 March 2008
The Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs, having considered
the subject of the National Gambling Amendment Bill (B 31B – 2007)
referred to it, and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a
section 76 (1) Bill, reports the Bill with amendments [B31C-2007].
Report to be considered.
-
Report of the Select Committee on Finance on the Division of Revenue Bill [B 4 – 2008], dated 19 March 2008
The Select Committee on Finance, having considered and examined the Division of Revenue Bill, [B 4– 2008 (National Assembly – sec 76(1)), referred to it, and classified by the JTM as a section 76(1) Bill, reports that it has agreed to the Bill.
Report to be considered