Criticising the Municipal Rates Amendment Bill, Mr Parks Tau, Johannesburg City Executive Mayor, spoke about its impact on the domestic ratepayer and city budgets. Exemption from rates was in the public service interest. The Bill would shift R400 million per annum from government to the ratepayer. The impact amounted to ...
On Tuesday, before turning the Portfolio Committee on Police's attention to considering the controversial Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment (PSIRA) bill, Chairperson Annelize Van Wyk began the meeting on a sombre note by making mention of the fact that this year has not started off well for SAPS, with regards ...
People's Assembly (PA) notes that African Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe is back in the big house this year. After a six month leave of absence from Parliament, Meshoe was spotted attending the Police Portfolio Committee's first meeting of 2014, on Tuesday 28 November.
When asked why he ...
Of all the parliamentary committees I have visited, the most informative has been the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities. Due to my studies in Development and Gender, attending this Committee has extended my knowledge and I have witnessed the reality of how policies can either produce ...
“When a Government collapses, the first thing to go is justice, and there is no justice in this country.”
These words were muttered by a disgruntled opposition MP during a tea break after a presentation from the South African Police Services (SAPS). The Portfolio Committee on Police had just gone ...
As an observer, one is either fortunate to attend a committee meeting where Members of Parliament are thoroughly prepared and willing to respectfully engage with one another on matters, but other meetings fail to grasp your interest from inception and the free snacks provided by Parliament may become the highlight ...
One thing that can be said about attending parliamentary committee meetings (unrelated to the discourse), is that the food served to MPs and visitors during the meetings is plentiful and delicious. Fresh filter coffee and cream, scones with whipped cream and jam, fine cheeses with crackers, croissant sandwiches with a ...
The current review of the Rules of Parliament is not only in compliance with statutory requirements but in response to pressures from the leading and minority opposition parties in Parliament. Moves made by the Democratic Alliance to pass a Motion of No Confidence on the President of the Republic last ...
I have been visiting Parliament for six months and during that time I have certainly gained insight into the ‘goings on’ of South Africa’s political spectrum. While politics plays a key role in the parliamentary setting, it is certainly not the be all and end all when it comes to ...
Not many people know there are fifty committees in Parliament - each assigned to oversee the work of a government department and YOU are welcome to attend. Email us if you would like to sit in on a parliamentary committee meeting. - all you need is an ID or passport to visit Parliament. Contributions about your impressions gladly accepted.
Here are comments from citizens attending parliamentary committee meetings: