The ABC's parliamentary report for the period October/November 2009 has been released.

Briefing on Human Settlements and Farm residence-housing programme
On 19 August 2009 the new Department of Human Settlements briefed the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on the new Housing Code that is currently being drafted by that Department as well as the Farm residence-housing programme. The Farm residence programme makes provision for models of ownership as well as rental options.

Labour Brokering
The Portfolio Committee on Labour held public hearings on labour brokering on 25 and 26 August. Various organisations presented their points and also proposed different ways of addressing the labour brokering situation.

Comprehensive rural development programme
The Director-General of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform on 25 August 2009 made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform on the comprehensive rural development programme and specifically the pilot projects in Giyani and at Riemvasmaak.

Opportunities and challenges facing South Africa within the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Doha Developmental Agenda
the Department of Trade and Industry's International Trade and Economic Development Division made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and industry on opportunities and challenges facing South Africa within the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Doha Developmental Agenda. Key issues addressed by the Doha Round included negotiations around industrial tariffs, agricultural tariffs and support measures, anti-dumping, countervailing measures, liberalisation of services, intellectual property rights, the environment, and trade facilitation.

South Africa’s response to the global economic crisis
The Minister of Economic Development, Mr Ebrahim Patel, informed the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development on South Africa’s response to the global economic crisis. He explained how the crisis came about and how it has affected South Africa as well as the global economy. Economic growth slowed down dramatically and the manufacturing sector shrank by 20%. There were big job losses and credit became more difficult to obtain. The biggest losses occurred in the manufacturing sector. A Framework for South Africa’s response was developed and agreed to and certain measures announced to deal with the crisis.

Strategic planning session of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development & Land Affairs
The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development & Land Affairs held a strategic planning session on 4 and 5 August in Gordon’s Bay. The object of the session was to do their planning for the next five years. Agri SA and other role players, such as NAFU, FAWU and Women on Farms, were invited to make submissions to the Committee. There were also inputs from academics such as Prof. Ben Cousins and Prof. Cheryl Walker. On the second day, officials of the Treasury and the Auditor-General also made submissions on budgets and audit processes which are of importance to the Committee’s activities.

Report of goverment officials doing business with government entities
On 7 August 2009 the Committee on Public Accounts considered a report by the Auditor-General on government officials doing business with government entities.

Strategic plan of the Department of Water Affairs for 2009 – 2012
The Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and the Environment was presented with the strategic plan of the Department of Water Affairs for 2009 – 2012 on 12 August 2009. It was a very comprehensive briefing on issues of rainfall, watercourses, inter-basin transfers, monitoring and evaluation systems, infrastructure and policies.

Agricultural Research Council annual report and budget
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on 7 July 2009 made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on their annual report and budget. The ARC’s Chief Executive Officer informed the Portfolio Committee that the ARC was experiencing  serious financial problems, which cannot be ascribed to mismanagement but rather a lack of budget.

Food prices and noncompetitive market practices
On 8 July 2009, the National Agricultural Marketing Council and the Competition Commission made submissions to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries regarding food prices and noncompetitive market practices. The Agricultural Marketing Council
emphasised the important role of the agricultural sector as earner of foreign exchange and provider of food and job opportunities, also in terms of forward and backward linkages within the economy.

Restitution of Land Rights
The Commission for the Restitution of Land Rights on 8 July 2009 made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform regarding progress made with restitution.

Land Bank presentation
The Land Bank made a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on 9 July 2009. A turnaround strategy was presented to the Committee.

Budget speech of the Minister of Water Affairs and the Environment.
On 24 June 2009, the Minister of Water Affairs and the Environment delivered her budget speech.  She referred to the resolutions adopted at the ANC’s Polokwane congress, namely to reform water allocation and to manage the resource in a responsible manner.

Budget speech of the Minister of Trade and Industry
The Minister of Trade and Industry delivered his budget speech on 30 June 2009.  He said the mandate which government had secured from the electorate was to grow the economy in a manner that would create jobs and sustainable subsistence opportunities.

Budget speech of the Minister of Police
The Minister of Police delivered his budget speech in Parliament on 1 July 2009.  He said crime was undermining the government’s efforts to address poverty.  He referred to President Zuma's state-of-the-nation address in which he said, among others things, that the government aimed to create a properly funded and well-managed criminal justice system.

Progress in Rural Development and Land Reform
At a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform on 1 July 2009, parliamentary researchers made a submission regarding their views on progress made with land reform to date and obstacles that exist in this regard.

The mandates, priorities and proposed approach of the new Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Affairs
On 4 June 2009 the new Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Affairs, in the form of a brief submission by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Affairs, Mr GE Nkwinti, provided elucidation on the mandates, priorities and proposed approach of the new portfolio.  He said the new ministry and department had been created as a result of decisions taken in 2008 at the ANC’s Polokwane conference.
Agricultural Business Chamber Parliamentary report: 4 - 18 June 2009

Discussion on the budget votes of the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as Rural Development and Land Affairs
A joint meeting of the Portfolio Committees on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Affairs was held on 9 June 2009.  The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Tina Joematt-Pettersen and Mr Nkwinti, as well as the two Deputy Ministers, Dr Pieter Mulder and Mr Joe Phaala.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the budget votes of the two state departments which will be debated on 17 June.

Taxation Laws Amendment Bill briefing
On 11 June 2009, the South African Revenue Service and National Treasury briefed the Portfolio Committee of Finance on the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill.

Budget speech of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Petterson made her budget speech on 17 June.  She referred to the currunt global economic crisis and stated that the government is concerned about job losses and the potential of the agricultural sector to contribute to job creation.

Budget speech of the Minister for Rural Development and Land Affairs
The Minister for Rural Development and Land Affairs, Mr Nkwinti, also presented his department’s budget to Parliament on 17 June 2009.  He spoke about the three programs of land reform and progress made with each of these.

Budget vote for the environment
On 18 June 2009, Minister Sonjica presented the budget vote for the environment.  She said that her department will support rural development objectives.  She also referred to the issue of climate change.

Land Use Management Bill
On 5, 6, 12 and 13 August 2008 the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs dealt with the Land Use Management Bill.  The Department of Land Affairs had an opportunity to respond to the submissions made by Agri SA and others during the public hearings. On 12 August the Legal Resources Centre, SALGA (the association of public authorities) and the Commission on Gender Equality made further submissions on the Bill.  Certain amendments were effected in accordance with inputs provided during the public hearings and by Committee members.

Provision of Land and Assistance Amendment Bill
On 19, 20 en 26 August the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs discussed the Provision of Land and Assistance Amendment Bill.  On 19 August the Department of Land Affairs made a submission to the Committee regarding the proposed amendments.  On 20 August Agri SA, the Institute for Constitutional and Labour Studies, NAFU and one Geoff Lumsden made submissions to the Committee regarding the Amendment Bill. The amendments tabled in Parliament were aimed at extending the application of the Act by making provision for the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs to acquire going concerns, farms with movable assets and shares in farming enterprises for the purpose of land reform.

Public hearings on the Companies Bill
On 13 August 2008 the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry held public hearings on the new Companies Bill.  Various organisations, including Eskom, the Board of Auditors, Old Mutual, Transnet and the Banking Council, made submissions on the Bill.  On 20 August Cosatu also made a submission and on 22 and 25 August the Department of Trade and industry responded to the submissions.  Issues highlighted included:
•    the duties and responsibilities of directors;
•    the concept of “business rescue”;
•    access to company information;
•    audits; and
•    the protection of shareholders.
Certain amendments were made to the Bill, which was accepted by the Committee on 28 August.

Public hearings on the Consumer Protection Bill
On 2 and 3 September 2008 the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry held public hearings on the Consumer Protection Bill. Concerns were expressed regarding the definitions of “consumer” and “supplier” and the possible impact of the legislation on small businesses. The SA Free Alliance on Genetic Manipulation also made a submission in which they requested that GMO products should be marked and that provision be made for accountability when GMO products cause harm.

Scorpions Bill
Public hearings on the proposed closure of the Scorpions unit of the Police were held on 5, 6, 7 and 19 August as well as on 2,3,4 and 9 September.  Various organisastions made submissions in the hearings.  The Committee will now consider the submissions and then decide on further steps to be taken.

Submission to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry regarding the new Companies Act
On 28 July 2008 the Department of Trade and Industry made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry regarding the new Companies Act.  The new legislation is aimed at making company legislation simpler and more flexible.

Department of Minerals and Energy:  National Energy Bill
On 28 July 2008 the Department of Minerals and Energy made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy regarding the new National Energy Bill.  The purpose of the legislation is to promote energy development (including alternative energy) and to gather data and information in this regard.

Public hearings:  Competition Amendment Bill
On 29 July 2008 the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry held public hearings on the Competition Amendment Bill.  The Banking Council, National Energy Regulator, Telkom, BUSA, ABSA and the Law Society made submissions.

Department Land Affairs:  Land Use Bill
The Department of Land Affairs on 29 July made a submission to the Portfolio Committee of Agriculture and Land Affairs regarding the Land Use Bill, and on 30 and 31 July the Committee held public hearings in this regard.  The purpose of the legislation is to create a uniform spatial framework for land use.

Department of Trade and Industry:  Consumer Protection Bill
On 30 July 2008 the Department of Trade and Industry made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry regarding the Consumer Protection Bill.  They reported specifically on mandates secured in the provinces with regard to this legislation.

Public hearings:   Skills Development Amendment Bill
On 30 July 2008 public hearings were held regarding the Skills Development Amendment Bill.  The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants presented oral evidence in this regard before the Portfolio on Labour.  A NEDLAC process was also followed with regard to these amendments.

Public hearings: the Scorpions
On 5 August 2008 the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security held public hearings on the proposed legislation which would abolish the Scorpions unit of the police.

Expropriation Bill
The Expropriation Bill does not at present appear on the programme of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works.  The Committee had initially intended to finalise the bill by June 2008.