More National Assembly committees elect chairpersons

Thirteen more National Assembly committees have elected their respective chairpersons on Wednesday.

This followed Tuesday’s committee meetings where 16 committees elected their chairpersons.

The members elected to serve as committee chairpersons include:
•    Portfolio Committee on Tourism – Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe.
•    Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements – Albert Mammoga Seabi.
•    Standing Committee on the Auditor-General – Wouter Wessels.
•    Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure – Carol Phiri.
•    Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Dr Zweli Mkhize.
•    Portfolio Committee on Police – Ian Cameron.
•    Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture – Joseph McGluwa.
•    Portfolio Committee on Higher Education – Walter Tebogo Letsie.
•    Standing Committee on Appropriations – Mmusi Maimane.
•    Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) – Songezo Zibi.
•    Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development – Masefako Clarah Dikgale.
•    Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition – Mzwandile Masina.
•    Portfolio Committee on Agriculture – Dina Pule.
•    Portfolio Committee on Land and Rural Development – Tsakani Goodness Shiviti.
•    Portfolio Committee on Social Development – Bridget Masango.
•    Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy – Nomkhosi Mvana.
•    Portfolio Committee on Women – Mary-Ann Lindelwa Dunjwa.

The Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation postponed its meeting to a later date when it will elect a chairperson.

“The election of the chairpersons of committees paves the way for Members of Parliament to start deliberating on budget votes and other important business of Parliament, which requires the attention of committees,” Parliament said.

The National Council of Provinces will elect their respective chairpersons on Thursday and Friday.
National Council of Provinces elects Deputy Chairperson

Meanwhile, during its plenary session on Tuesday, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) elected Poobalan Govender to serve as Deputy Chairperson of the Council.

A permanent delegate to the NCOP from KwaZulu-Natal, Poobalan, who is representing the Inkatha Freedom Party, joined the NCOP in the seventh Parliament.

Poobalan has been a Member of the KZN Provincial Legislature since 2014 and served on various committees, including Social Development, Economic Development and Tourism.

As NCOP Deputy Chairperson, he will assist the Chairperson in undertaking her duties, providing strategic leadership and will fill in if the Chairperson is unavailable.

This includes representing Parliament in international multilateral forums and the NCOP in international bilateral forums. The Deputy Chairperson also presides over the meetings of the Council when delegated by the Chairperson when she is not available.

During the same sitting, the Council also elected Denis Ryder as the House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight and Bhekizizwe Radebe as the House Chairperson for International Relations and Members’ Support.

Kolobe Regina Molokomme who is a Permanent Delegate to the NCOP representing Limpopo, was appointed as the Programming Whip.

The NCOP Programming Whip oversees the programme of the House and works jointly with the Presiding Officers to allocate plenary sessions for debates, consideration of legislation and Select Committee reports.

The Council also designated the NCOP Chairperson, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, the Chief Whip, Kenneth Mmoiemang, and delegates, Advocate Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, and Nicholas Gotsell to serve on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

In terms of the Magistrates Act of 1993, the Council designated the following members to serve on the Magistrates Commission:
•    Solomon Patrick Mabilo: (Ms Desery Fienies, alternate);
•    Makhi Feni (Ms Mary Ndlangisa-Nodada, alternate); and
•    Sylvia Nxumalo (Mr Mtikeni Patrick Sibande, alternate).

Mtshweni-Tsipane was elected as a permanent trustee to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Political Office-Bearers Pension Fund, with Advocate Nonkonyana as an alternate.

The rules of the Political Office-Bearers Pension Fund require that, following general elections, Permanent Delegates to the NCOP must elect one Permanent Delegate as trustee and one that will serve as an alternate on the Board. – SAnews.gov.za