Repeal of Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill: adoption; Public Enterprises BRRR

Meeting report

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed all members present and reminded them that two items are on the agenda today. They first is the consideration and adoption of the Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR) report and the finalisation of the Repeal Bill and adoption of the report on the Bill. Hopefully members have gone through the Bill and the BRRR report.

Public Enterprises BRRR

The Chairperson tabled the document for consideration.

Mr N Singh (IFP) moved for the adoption of the BRRR with an amendment. The amendment should be a recommendation to the Minister for Public Enterprises that he must engage Treasury on behalf of those enterprises that require additional funding, and that the Minister for Finance must consider the request. The Committee notes that an amount has been provided in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) and the Committee wants to further engage those entities and the Department on the additional amount. The report on the BRRR was then adopted with amendments thereof.

Repeal of Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill

All sections of The Repeal of the Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill were agreed to without amendments.

Committee Report on Repeal of Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill

The Chairperson read out the report:

The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, having considered the Repeal of the Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill (B 36-2017) reports that it has agreed to the Bill without amendments.

The Committee received a briefing from the Department of Public Enterprises on 30 May 2018 and considered comments from the public on 30 May 2018. The Committee recommends that the Minister of Public Enterprises should ensure that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, as well as the Department of Public Works, to resolve the outstanding land claims and other ancillary issues that were raised in the responses to the call for submissions.

Outstanding Minutes

The minutes of 24 October 2018 was adopted without amendments.

Matters arising

Ms D Rantho (ANC) noted that there is the possibility that the report on the Eskom Inquiry might not be submitted to Parliament before it rises for elections next year. The reason for this is that the Advocate who led the inquiry on behalf of the Committee is no longer working for Parliament and a dedicated legal person is needed to oversee to the finalisation of the report.

Mr E Marais (DA) said that no efforts must be spared to ensure that this reports serves before Parliament before it breaks. A lot of work has been done and it has to serve before Parliament goes on recess.

The Chairperson noted the comments made but was of the opinion that major work has been done and the report is nearing its finalisation. She further remarked that the Committee’s legal advisor - who was also involved in the inquiry - is now on leave for the past two weeks, and it needs to be establish how soon she can come back from leave. If she leads the process with the assistance of other legal personnel that could be sourced from Parliament, it is possible to round up the report. It was noted that the Committee desires that every effort must be made to ensure that the report is submitted before Parliament goes on the December recess.  If this is done, it will then be possible that when Parliament reconvenes in January, the report could be tabled before it goes on recess for elections next year.

The Chairperson further proposed that a Tuesday in November be set aside to meet with SAA. Looking at the Committee itinerary, every Wednesday is full with engagements till the end of November. If this is not done, the Committee might end the year without meeting with SAA since it was gazetted in August to form part of the Department of Public Enterprises. SAA has since been given enough time to settle in and prepare to meet this Committee. The Minister and SAA are already aware that they need to meet the Committee before Parliament goes on recess.

Members agreed to the suggestion.

The meeting was adjourned.