The rules committee of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has appointed members to constitute three committees. These are the select committees, the subcommittee on the review of the council rules and the programming committee of the Seventh Parliament.
During its first meeting on Wednesday, the committee also agreed to reduce the number of its select committees to 10. This instead of the previous 11 in the sixth parliament.
“These select committees are the engine room of the NCOP. They are responsible for overseeing the performance of various government departments. Select committees are also crucial in ensuring consistent focus on provincial issues,” the committee said in a statement.
Fewer, even number of select committees
The decision to reduce the number of select committees to 10 will now mean that the social cluster will have two committees.
“The select committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture will oversee various departments. These are the Departments of Basic Education and Higher Education. Also the Departments of Science and Technology, Communications and Digital Technologies. And lastly Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
“The select committee on Social Services will oversee the Departments of Health and Department of Social Development. Also Women and Youth Development, Persons with Disabilities, and Statistics South Africa,” the committee said.
The committee also announced that the Governance Cluster will comprise two committees. These include the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure. It will oversee the work of the Departments of Public Works and Infrastructure. Department of Transport, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. And the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration.
The committees will also oversee the Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Public Service and Administration, Human Settlements, and Water and Sanitation.
“The Security Cluster has two committees, namely, the Select Committee on Security and Justice. It oversees the Departments of Police, Justice and Correctional Services, Defence and Military Veterans. Home Affairs, State Security, and International Relations and Co-operation. And the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings,” the committee said.
Economic cluster
The Economic Cluster will include the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade. It oversees the Departments of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Competition. Small Business Development and Tourism, Employment and Labour, and Public Enterprises. And the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources, overseeing the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Also Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Electricity.
The Finance Cluster has the Select Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Appropriations to oversee the Treasury.
Elections on four NCOP vacancies scheduled for next week
Meanwhile, the elections to fill the four vacancies in the NCOP are still pending. These are for Permanent Deputy Chairperson and House Chairperson for Committees. Also House Chairperson for Members Support and International Relations. And the Programming Whip of the NCOP. The elections have been scheduled to take place on July 2.
The Rules Committee comprises 20 Council members. These include the Permanent Deputy Chairperson, NCOP Chief Whip Kenneth Mmoiemang. Also the House Chairpersons, the Programming Whip, and the Provincial Whips. Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who is the Chairperson of the NCOP, chairs the Committee.
The Committee noted the NCOP Rule 133. It provides that parties represented in the NCOP that do not have a Provincial whip are entitled to be represented in the Rules Committee.
Room for parties without provincial whips
“The parties without provincial whips are the EFF, FF+; MK Party, PA, and the UDM.
“The EFF will be represented by Mandisa Makesini, FF+ by Tamarin Breedt, MKP by Seeng Mokoena. PA will be represented by Bino Farmer, and the UDM by Mandla Peter.
“The NCOP Provincial Whips are Advocate Mwelo Nonkonyana (Eastern Cape), Mapule Dhlamini (Free State). Mpho Modise (Gauteng), Poobalan Govender (KwaZulu-Natal), Regina Molokomme (Limpopo). Sylvia Nxumalo (Mpumalanga), Solomon Mabilo (Northern Cape). Sylvia Sithole (North West), and Frederik Badenhorst (Western Cape),” the committee said.
The committee also noted Rule 137 of the NCOP Rules. It states that the rules committee may establish a subcommittee that can make recommendations. These are recommendations on the council rules, orders, proceedings, procedures, and practices.
For current purposes, the committee said the five-member subcommittee includes the NCOP chairperson. Chief whip Bhekizizwe Radebe from the ANC; Badenhorst from the DA and Makesini from the EFF.
“The NCOP Programming Committee, in terms of Rule 143, has the same members as the NCOP Rules Committee.”
- SAnews.gov.za
