Defence Amendment Bill: finalisation

Meeting report

 Defence Amendment Bill: finalisation

The Chairperson took the Members through the Bill clause by clause.

Mr D Gamede (ANC) sought clarity on Clause 16.

An official from the Department said the clause was making it unlawful for any person including ex-members of the defence force to wear the defence force uniform.

Ms B Dambuza (ANC) commented that a public awareness campaign should be made regarding this matter before people were being sentenced because there were manufacturers that make camouflage attire.

Mr Gamede wanted to understand if it was not better to do public participation on this matter before it was being passed into law, and asked if the Committee could get a legal opinion on the issue.

The Chairperson stated that invites were distributed to the stakeholders but no response was received.

Mr Siviwe Njikela, Parliamentary Legal Advisor, explained the Bill was technical in its nature, and all public participation processes were followed though there were no responses.

The Committee adopted the bill with no amendments.

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans on the Defence Amendment Bill
The Chairperson tabled the document for consideration.

Ms Dambuza suggested that Regulations should be presented to the Committee before the Minister approves them.

The State Law Advisor indicated the Department intended to present the regulations to the Committee.

The Chairperson suggested the report should be adopted, and the issue of regulations would be considered later. He then took the Members through the report.

The Portfolio Committee on Defence having, considered the subject of the Defence Amendment Bill [B18-2017], referred to it and classified by the JTM as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill without amendment.

Mr Gamede moved for the adoption of the report.

Mr G Skosana (ANC) seconded the motion.

The report was adopted with no amendments.

Third Term Committee Programme

Ms N Mnisi (ANC) proposed for the acceptance of the document.

Ms Dambuza seconded the proposition.

The programme was adopted with no amendments.

The meeting was adjourned.