List of committees of the Parliament of South Africa

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Meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in 2019 SA COGTA committee in session, November 2019 (1).jpg
Meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in 2019
The backs of DA MPs Glynnis Breytenbach and James Selfe in the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services in November 2019 Justice Committee of the SA Parliament.jpg
The backs of DA MPs Glynnis Breytenbach and James Selfe in the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services in November 2019

The committees of the Parliament of South Africa are appointed to oversee the work of government and to process legislation in domains relevant to their designated portfolio. They are composed of Members of Parliament from either parliamentary chamber. Portfolio committees and most standing committees are peopled by Members of the National Assembly, while select committees comprise Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces; these shadow the work of a particular government department or group of departments. Parliament may also establish joint committees, with members from both houses, and either chamber, alone or jointly, may establish ad hoc committees that operate for a shorter timeframe under a narrower mandate. [1]

Contents

Although committees are largely regulated in terms of the Rules of Parliament, the basic framework for their operation derives from Chapter Four of the Constitution of South Africa. The Constitution provides for committees' powers to summon any persons or institutions to provide evidence, for their obligation to provide for public participation in committee activities, and for members' freedom of speech and parliamentary privilege during committee proceedings. [2] In terms of the Constitution, Parliament may not exclude the public or the media from any committee sittings "unless it is reasonable and justifiable to do so in an open and democratic society". [2]

Parliamentary political parties are represented in committees in proportions that are generally representative of their strength in Parliament. [1] Because committee chairpersons are elected by and from among the members of each committee, the majority party in Parliament has the most influence in selecting chairpersons. [3]

National Assembly

Portfolio committees

The portfolio committees of the National Assembly deal with the examining of bills, departmental budget votes, and are responsible for oversight of the work their respective department does. [1] As of 2024, the current portfolio committees and the chairs of each committee are as follows: [4]

Portfolio committees
CommitteeChairResponsibility
NameSince
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture Dina Pule 2024 Department of Agriculture
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Joy Maimela 2024 Department of Basic Education and statutory entities
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies Khusela Sangoni 2024 Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and statutory entities
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration Zweli Mkhize 2024 Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and statutory entities
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services Anthea Ramolobeng 2024 Department of Correctional Services
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans Molefi Legoete 2024 Department of Defence and Military Veterans and statutory entities
Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour Boyce Makhosonke Maneli 2024 Department of Employment and Labour and associated entities
Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy Queenie Mvana 2024 Department of Energy
Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Nqabisa Gantsho 2024 Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and associated entities
Portfolio Committee on Health Sibongiseni Dhlomo 2024 Department of Health and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Tebogo Letsie 2024 Department of Higher Education and Training and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs Steve Chabane [5] 2021 Department of Home Affairs and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements Albert Mammoga Seabi 2024 Department of Human Settlements and related entities
Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Supra Mahumapelo [6] 2021 Department of International Relations and Cooperation and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Xola Nqola 2024 Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development Albert Mncwango 2024 Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources Mikateko Mahlaule 2024 Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Police Ian Cameron 2024 Department of Police and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration Jan de Villiers 2024 Department of Public Service and Administration
Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Teliswa Mgweba 2024Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure Carol Phiri 2024 Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and associated entities
Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation Tsakani Goodness Shiviti 2024 Department of Science and Innovation
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development Masefako Dikgale 2024 Department of Small Business Development and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Social Development Bridget Masango 2024 Department of Social Development and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture Joe McGluwa 2024 Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Tourism Lungi Gcabashe 2024 Department of Tourism and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina 2024 Department of Trade and Industry and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Transport Donald Selamolela 2024 Department of Transport and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation Leon Basson 2024 Department of Water and Sanitation and related entities
Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Lindelwa Dunjwa 2024 Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and related entities

Standing committees

Standing committees [4]
CommitteeChair
NameSince
Standing Committee on Appropriations Mmusi Maimane 2024
Standing Committee on Auditor-General Wouter Wessels 2024
Standing Committee on Finance Joe Maswanganyi [7] 2019
Standing Committee on Public Accounts Songezo Zibi 2024

National Council of Provinces

Select committees

Select committees are made up of Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces. Since the National Council of Provinces, is much smaller than the National Assembly, select committees oversee the work of more than one department. [1] As of 2024, the current select committees and chairs of each committee are as follows: [4]

Select committees
CommitteeChairResponsibility
NameSince
Select Committee on Appropriations Tidimalo Legwase 2024
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform, and Mineral Resources Mpho Modise 2024
Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration Mxolisi Kaunda 2024
Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade Sonja Boshoff 2024
Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries Makhi Feni 2024
Select Committee on Finance Sanny Ndhlov 2024 National Treasury
Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings Ofentse Mokae 2024
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Ministries in Presidency Frederik Badenhorst 2024
Select Committee on Security and Justice Jane Mananiso 2024 Department of Police, Department of Justice and Correctional Services, Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Department of Home Affairs and Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Select Committee on Social Services Desery Fienies 2024

Joint committees

Joint committees

A joint committee consists of members of Parliament from both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. [1]

Joint committee
CommitteeChairsResponsibility
NameSince
Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interest Lydia Moshodi
Bheki Nkosi [7] 		2019Ethical conduct of MPs and their financial disclosures

Joint standing committees

Joint standing committees
CommitteeChair
NameSince
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament Peace Mabe
Dikeledi Mahlangu [7] 		2019
Joint Standing Committee on Defence Elleck Nchabeleng
Cyril Xaba [7] 		2019
Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence Jerome Maake [7] 2019

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Role of Parliamentary Committees". Parliament of South Africa. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 "The SA Constitution". Department of Justice. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  3. ↑ "A Note to the Sixth Parliament: The critical role of Committee Chairperson". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  4. 1 2 3 "Committee Chairpersons". Parliament of South Africa. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  5. ↑ "Election of Chairperson; DHA & SITA on war on queues and chronic network downtimes at DHA offices | PMG". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  6. ↑ "Election of Chairperson | PMG". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Committee Chairpersons". Parliament of South Africa. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
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